Scientific Committee

Prof. Koji Tamai
Chairperson, SPINE20 Scientific Committee

Scientific committee and taskforce structure of spine20

The Scientific Committee of SPINE20 functions as the core body responsible for transforming scientific knowledge and evidences in spine care into policy-relevant outputs for governments and global stakeholders. Its work directly supports engagement with the G20, international agencies, and national health systems by ensuring that SPINE20’s messages are evidence-based, structured, and actionable. The Committee works through a single Scientific Taskforce, bringing together program design, recommendation development, call-for-action development, and policy implementation planning into a single, coordinated structure.

VISion

The Scientific Committee supports a vision in which all populations have timely access to high-value spine care that reduces disability and inequities. Its mission is to help G20 countries implement scalable, evidence-based spine-care models integrated with efficient digital technologies, thereby reducing the global burden of spine-related disability.

core functions

The Scientific Committee fulfills its role primarily by overseeing and coordinating the Scientific Taskforce responsible for operational execution. By managing this implementation-focused Taskforce, the Committee ensures that SPINE20’s scientific and policy activities remain coherent, evidence-based, and strategically aligned.

The scientific program is structured into multiple mini-symposia, complemented by a Call-for-Action session and a dedicated session focused on education in spine care. The program will also feature multiple keynote lectures delivered by world-renowned experts from diverse backgrounds.

SPINE20 symposia are organized around specific domains identified as critical to addressing global spinal health challenges. These domains were selected through a Delphi process conducted by an internationally represented, multidisciplinary panel of spine experts. Each symposium will include evidence-based lectures, debate sessions, and panel discussions.

The final session of the meeting will be dedicated to discussing the proposed recommendations emerging from the SPINE20 Summits held each year.

Scientific Program Design
The Committee structures the SPINE20 Summit as a policy-oriented scientific forum. Sessions are designed not only for academic exchange but to generate concrete policy outputs that can inform national spine-care strategies.
Annual Recommendations
Each year, SPINE20 develops several new policy recommendations aligned with the summit theme. These are submitted to the host government and other G20 stakeholders to advocate system-level improvements in access, efficiency, and innovation in spine care.
Call for Action
Distinct from general recommendations, the Call for Action focuses on implementing one previously issued SPINE20 recommendation. It provides a detailed, practical framework describing how policy concepts can be operationalized within real health systems.

Scientific Task Force Structure

Scientific activities for each summit are coordinated through a single, integrated Taskforce operating under a defined leadership framework within SPINE20. The Scientific Task Force Committee is composed of a Chairperson (Summit President), two Co-Chairs, and multidisciplinary spine experts from around the world. Together, they lead the development of the scientific program, recommendations, and the Call-for-Action session.

These activities are overseen and coordinated centrally by the Chair of the Central Scientific Committee, Prof. Koji Tamai, who is responsible for executive coordination.

This structure combines broad international expertise with centralized leadership, enabling effective oversight of the Taskforce’s operational work while maintaining scientific rigor and policy coherence.

Spine20 summits Theme

The theme of SPINE20 is selected annually through a consultative process that aligns global spine health priorities with the strategic interests of the hosting country. While maintaining SPINE20’s core mission and long-term objectives, the proposed theme reflects the host nation’s healthcare agenda, policy focus, and areas of particular relevance to spine care and musculoskeletal health. This approach ensures that each SPINE20 Summit addresses both globally significant challenges and context-specific priorities, enhancing the relevance, impact, and policy resonance of its recommendations at the national and international levels.

Summit Scientific Architecture

The Summit structure may vary in different year. The proposed 2026 summit structure consists of:

Day 1 – Recommendation Day:
Thematic symposia narrow broad strategic concepts into focused domains. Discussions generate the year’s SPINE20 recommendations.
Day 2 – Call for Action Day:
Workshops and panels develop the implementation pathway for a selected legacy recommendation, potentially producing policy briefs and scholarly outputs.

Target Audiences

Spine Practitioners
Global Spine leaders
Health Economists
Public Health Leader
Health Strategic planners
Spine Industrial Leaders and Investors
Government Health Officials and Legislators
Non-Government Organizations Interested in Spine Health

Recommendations & Publications

The approved recommendations from each SPINE20 Summit are published annually in a peer-reviewed open-access journal, ensuring accessibility for individuals and organizations interested in spine health.