The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) awarded its annual research grants to 20 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 nearly $350,000 in funding—an increase of more than $90,000 from the previous year. More than $2.8 million have been awarded since the Research Grants Program was established.
In addition, AOFAS continued its commitment to early-career researchers by awarding three Early Career Awards that recognize a researcher less than 10 years out of fellowship and one Resident Award that supports the work of an orthopaedic resident. First-time research grant applicants were also awarded 10 percent advantage in overall score.
"This year’s increased investment of the AOFAS Research Grants Program enables us to fund more innovative research and support more surgeons, especially those early in their careers,” said AOFAS Research Committee Chair Michael C. Aynardi, MD, from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. "By expanding our research funding, we are strengthening the knowledge base for diagnosing and treating complex foot and ankle conditions and, ultimately, improving patient care."
In addition to the Resident and Early Career Awards, the AOFAS awarded two Sigvard T. Hansen Pillar Research Grants (up to $50,000), one Established Project Grant (up to $50,000), five Small Project Grants (up to $20,000 each), seven Pilot Project Grants (up to 5,000), and the Ronald and Wendy Smith Clinical Research Grant (up to $25,000).
New this year, the Sigvard T. Hansen Pillar Research Grants were funded by generous donations to the Pillars of the AOFAS Fund in honor of Sigvard T. Hansen, MD. Dr. Hansen was a world-renowned pioneer in orthopaedic traumatology and reconstructive surgery who was recognized with the Pillars of the AOFAS Award in 2019.
Established in 2021 with a generous donation from AOFAS Past President Ronald W. Smith, MD, and his wife, Wendy, the Ronald and Wendy Smith Clinical Research Grant funds promising prospective research studies in areas of high clinical importance.
Congratulations to the 2026 AOFAS Research Grant Recipients!
Sigvard T. Hansen Pillar Research Grant (up to $50,000)
The Effectiveness of Subchondral Bone Preservation Technique in Ankle Joint Arthrodesis: An Animal Study
Shuyuan Li, MD, PhD; John M Virostko, PhD, MSCI
Software to Detect, Track, and Evaluate Physiologic Below Knee Amputation Motion within a Dynamic Stereo X-ray Video System
David Paglia, PhD; Jason Maikos, PhD; Salam Daher, PhD
Established Project Grant (up to $50,000)
The Impact of Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Training in Patients with Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair
Lorena Bejarano-Pineda, MD
Early Career Awards (up to $20,000)
Biomechanical Consequences of Zadek Osteotomy Apex Position Variation on Plantar Fascia Strain and Medial Calcaneal Tuberosity Pressure: A Cadaveric Study
Rohan Bhimani, MD, MBA
Can Syndesmosis Disruption Contribute to Development of a Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity? A Biomechanical Investigation
Elizabeth Cody, MD; Brett D. Steineman, PhD
The Effect of Centroidal versus Off-Axis Suture Button Fixation on Fibular Displacement in Syndesmotic Injuries: A Cadaveric Study
Bedri Karaismailoglu, MD
Small Project Grants (up to $20,000)
Percutaneous Fasciotomies for Exertional Compartment Syndrome: A Cadaveric Study of Minimally Invasive Anterior and Lateral Compartment Leg Release
Michael Greaser, MD; William C. McGarvey, MD; Eduardo Valero Moreno, MD; Annat R. Houston, MD; Taggart T. Gauvain, MD; John Z. Zhao, MD; Alexander M. Wetzig, MD; Richard L. Beaver, MD
Point of Care Comprehensive Analysis of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy Patients
Cherice Hill, PhD; Jeff R. Houck, PhD, PT; Amanda M. Holleran, MD; Jillian Santer, PT, DPT; David J. Ciufo, MD
Upregulation of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Induces Heterotopic Ossification in the Setting of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy
Meghan Kelly, MD, PhD; Fei Fang, PhD
Early Versus Delayed Weight-Bearing Following Operatively Treated Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures
Bradley Meulenkamp, MD; Cameron Elgie, MD; Karl-Andre R. Lalonde, MD
Gait Pattern and Clinical Outcome in Geriatric Ankle Fractures: How Does the Treatment Strategy Influence the Gait Pattern?
Angela Seidel, MD
Resident Award (up to $5,000)
From Fixation to Function: A Prospective Evaluation of Five-Point Flexible Fixation in Lisfranc Injuries Using the LEAP Protocol
Daniel Whittingslow, MD, PhD; Joe Hart, PhD, ATC, FACSM, FNATA, FNAK; Landon L. Larabee, MD; Trapper Lalli, MD
Pilot Project Awards (up to $5,000)
Kinematic Biomarkers of Symptomatic PCFD: Correlation Between Multisegmental Foot Model-Based Gait Parameters and WBCT-Derived 3D Measurements
Albert Anastasio, MD; Cesar de Cesar Netto, MD, PhD; Yoon-Chung (Sophie) Kim, MD, PhD
Nav1.7 (SCN9A) Association with Osteoarthritis Progression and Pain Regulation in Human Ankle Cartilage
Anny Hsu, MD
The Utilization of Thermographic Mapping in Foot and Ankle: A Pilot Study
Selene Parekh, MD, MBA; Daniel Cohen, PhD
Automated Radiographic Measurement Extraction for Total Ankle Replacement Using Deep Learning
David I. Pedowitz, MD, MS
Weightbearing CT Evaluation of Contact and Distance Mapping of the 1st Tarsometatarsal and Metatarsophalangeal Joints Following MIS Hallux Valgus Correction
Sudheer Reddy, MD
Patient-Specific Finite Element Analysis of Ankle Biomechanics and Joint Loading
Alma Sato, MD; Daisuke Suzuki, PhD; Atsushi Teramoto, MD
Reproduce the Results of Changes in Tibiotalar Area of Contact Caused by Lateral Talar Shift
Jiacheng Wen, BM; Anhao Shi; Lei Zhu, MD
Ronald and Wendy Smith Clinical Research Grant (up to $25,000)
Longitudinal Changes in Achilles Tendon Stiffness Post Repair
Mark Drakos, MD; Ogonna Kenechi Nwawka, MD; Cordelia P. Burn, BA; Jonathan A. Gamarra, BA
Learn more about the AOFAS Research Grants Program.
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.
Contact:
Elizabeth Edwards
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