Brotto named U.S. Bone and Joint Ambassador

American Society of Bone and Mineral Research selects Brotto for advocacy position

Wednesday, Sep 15, 2021 • Elizabeth Couch : Contact

Marco Brotto
Marco Brotto, director of the Ph.D. in Nursing program in UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

The director of the Bone-Muscle Research Center at The University of Texas at Arlington will serve as a U.S. Bone and Joint Ambassador with the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Marco Brotto, director of the Ph.D. in Nursing program in UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation, joins a distinguished group who will advocate on behalf of bone and musculoskeletal research and policy. He has been a longtime proponent of research and policy in relation to both musculoskeletal disease and broader science advocacy. He most recently supported and assisted the efforts of the Advocacy & Science Policy Committee in ASBMR.

“Our greatest success has been the continuous increase in funding for agencies such as the National Institutes of Health,” said Brotto, who also holds the title of George & Mary Hazel Jay Endowed Professor. “Even with some hurdles, budgets for science continue to increase because societies like ASBMR worked closely with all sides to show them the impact of research on the lives of Americans.”

In his new role as an ambassador with ASBMR, Brotto said he will continue to work closely with local and national congressional members to promote the importance of science and research funding. He also hopes there will be more opportunities to meet directly on the most pressing issues, including federal funding, clinical research and much more.

Brotto said he senses broad support for research in the U.S. and hopes to work to ensure this continues.

“There might be differences, but in general the U.S. is much more supportive toward research, despite blips along the way,” he said. “To a great extent, that is the work of advocacy in showing the impact of research.”

-Written by Sarah McBride, College of Nursing and Health Innovation