Rosemont Ill., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) awarded its annual research grants to 9 promising foot and ankle research projects. With funding from the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, the AOFAS Research Grants Program provides AOFAS members and their research teams with the resources to discover new foot and ankle treatments and advance patient care.
This year, the AOFAS expanded its commitment to research, by awarding more than $250,000 in funding—including two new awards, the Resident Award to support the work of an orthopaedic resident, and the Early Career Award to recognize a researcher less than 10 years out of fellowship. First-time research grant applicants were also awarded 10 percent advantage in overall score.
“The AOFAS Research Grants Program supports foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons’ important work with basic, translational, and clinical science,” said AOFAS Research Committee Chair Jason T. Bariteau, MD, from Emory University in Atlanta. “This year, we also wanted to support our early-career colleagues and give them the opportunity to grow as clinician-scientists.”
For example, the Resident Award winner will work with a named mentor as the Chief Investigator and ideally use the data obtained to develop future grant applications, he said.
In addition to the Resident and Early Career Awards, the AOFAS awarded three Established Project Grants (up to $50,000) and four Small Project Grants (up to $20,000 each).
“Ultimately, our research work will improve patient care by providing the knowledge for the diagnosis and treatment of complex conditions of the foot and ankle,” Dr. Bariteau said.
Congratulations to the 2024 AOFAS Research Grant Recipients!
Established Project Grants (up to $50,000)
Surgical Planning in the Treatment of Flexible Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity to Improve Accuracy of Deformity Correction and Patient Reported Outcomes
Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD
Developing Precision Rehabilitation Using Wearable Sensors for Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair
Lorraine Boakye, MD
Strategizing Infection Prevention in Ankle Arthroplasty Based on Risk Factors and Wound Bacterial Load
Zijun Zhang, MD, PhD; Lew Schon, MD
Small Project Grants (up to $20,000)
Multi-Omics Data Integration Using Machine Learning to Define Key Relationship of Healing Achilles Tendon and Paratenon
Daniel Moon, MD, MS, MBA; Michael David, PhD
The Biomechanical Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Mid-Substance Repair: The Effect of Heel Lift
Jiyong Ahn, MD, PhD; Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani, MD, John Kwon, MD; Christopher W. DiGiovanni, MD; Daniel Guss, MD, MBA; Lorena Bejarano-Pineda, MD; Gregory Waryasz, MD; Alireza Ebrahimi, MD, MBA
Arch Supporting Ligament Stiffness in Patients with PCFD Compared to Healthy Controls
L. Daniel Latt, MD, PhD
Stepping onto the Red Carpet of Etiology and Prevention: Gait Analysis as the Key to Success for Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle
Sjoerd Stufkens, MD, PhD
Early Career Award (up to $20,000)
Efficacy and Safety of Intraosseous Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Total Ankle Replacement: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Kurt Hofmann, MD
Resident Award (up to $5,000)
Biomechanical Testing of 3D Printed Implants for the Fixation of OTA Type B Ankle Fractures
Myles Dworkin, MD, MPH
More than $2 million in grants have been awarded since the program began in 1997. The AOFAS Research Grants Program is funded by the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation, supported in part by a grant from Arthrex, Inc.
About Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons
Foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consist of four years of medical school, five years of postgraduate residency, and a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists care for patients of all ages, performing reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treating sports injuries, and managing foot and ankle trauma.
About the AOFAS
The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) mobilizes our dynamic community of foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons to improve patient care through education, research, and advocacy. As the premier global organization for foot and ankle care, AOFAS delivers exceptional events and resources for continuous education, funds and promotes innovative research, and broadens patient understanding of foot and ankle conditions and treatments. By emphasizing collaboration and excellence, AOFAS inspires ever-increasing levels of professional performance leading to improved patient outcomes. For more information, visit aofas.org.
