International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine
September 29, 2025
Re: Message to the Future of Spine from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS)
Dear Colleagues and Future Members of the Spine Community,
On behalf of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS), it is my honor to contribute this message to the time capsule marking the 40th Anniversary of the North American Spine Society (NASS). As I write in 2025, we reflect on decades of remarkable scientific progress, while casting our vision forward toward the next half-century of discovery and care.
The Present Moment (2025) Spine science today is marked by rapid innovation and unprecedented collaboration. Advances in biologics, biomechanics, imaging, robotics, and minimally invasive surgery are reshaping both our research and our clinical practice. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are beginning to influence diagnostics and predictive modeling, creating opportunities for personalized approaches.
At the same time, fundamental challenges remain: degenerative spinal disorders continue to weigh heavily on individuals and health systems worldwide; access to care is still inequitable; and the pressure to deliver cost-effective solutions is ever-present. These realities remind us that spine research and care are not only technical enterprises, but also deeply human and societal responsibilities.
The ISSLS Legacy and Evolution Founded in 1974, ISSLS remains the oldest, international multidisciplinary spine society. Last year, ISSLS proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary — a half century devoted to advancing spine science across borders. Since its formation, ISSLS has held fast to its identity as a small, collegial, and scientifically rigorous society. Our meetings have always prioritized depth of inquiry, single-session discussions, and candid debate, nurturing an environment where transformative ideas emerge and lifelong collaborations are forged.
Unlike broader societies with a stronger clinical reach, ISSLS has chosen to focus deliberately on the generation of fundamental evidence — supporting young investigators, advancing disc biology and biomechanics, and championing translational research. Many of the principles that shape today’s clinical practice were born in ISSLS discussions decades ago.
As we enter our next half-century, ISSLS remains committed to the culture of team science, mentorship, and open inquiry. We aim to complement the broader missions of larger societies such as NASS, enriching the global spine community by ensuring that clinical decisions are continually informed by the strongest scientific foundations.
Aspirations for the Future (2065) To the spine specialists of 2065: we imagine your present as one where many of today’s aspirations have become realities. We hope that:
- Science and Technology allow not only repair but true regeneration of the intervertebral disc, spinal cord, and neural elements, restoring form and function once thought irretrievable.
- Artificial Intelligence and Data serve as trusted tools — powerful yet critically appraised — enhancing decisions without replacing judgment, and always grounded in validated evidence.
- Critical Thinking and Scientific Rigor remain central, ensuring that every innovation is subjected to questioning, validation, and refinement before adoption, preserving the credibility of our field.
- Minimally Invasive and Non-Invasive Therapies are standard, allowing patients to recover swiftly with dignity and minimal disruption to life.
- Equity in Access is realized, such that a patient in any corner of the world receives care that is informed by the same quality of evidence as in the most advanced centers.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration flourishes, bringing together surgeons, basic scientists, engineers, data scientists, rehabilitation experts, and policy leaders in a spirit of team science.
- Ethics and Humanity continue to guide all endeavors, so that technology and discovery serve people, not the other way around.
A Shared Global Vision ISSLS and NASS, though different in size and focus, have long shared a mission to advance spine knowledge and improve outcomes for patients worldwide. Together, our societies exemplify the strength of a balanced ecosystem: NASS with its broad multidisciplinary reach and clinical implementation, ISSLS with its deep scientific inquiry and foundational research. Both roles are essential, and together they have enriched the spine community for generations.
The decades ahead will require even greater international collaboration. The challenges of aging populations, healthcare disparities, and evolving technologies transcend borders. The future spine community must be global in outlook, united in purpose, and rooted in science that translates into meaningful care.
A Message of Hope and Responsibility To the next generation: may you hold fast to the values of curiosity, rigor, and compassion. Technology will transform your era, but critical thinking, humility, and empathy must remain the cornerstones of our profession.
When you open this capsule in 2065, we hope you will find our aspirations not as distant dreams but as milestones long surpassed. If we in 2025 imagined regenerative therapies, evidence-driven AI, and equitable global care, may your present reality be even more advanced, humane, and scientifically grounded than our boldest vision.
On behalf of ISSLS, I extend congratulations to NASS on its 40th Anniversary. May this time capsule stand as a testament to our shared legacy, our scientific ethos, and our collective responsibility to the future of spine care.
With respect and anticipation, Sincerely,
Yong Hai, MD President 2025-2026 International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine