AOFAS and the Arthritis Foundation Launch Grants Program to Fuel Ankle Arthritis Research

Rosemont, Ill., Jan. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society^® (AOFAS) and the Arthritis Foundation (AF) announced the opening of the first-ever AF/AOFAS Ankle Arthritis Think Tank Research Grants. The grants provide substantial funding to support innovative clinical research that advances knowledge toward treatments to stop or slow ankle osteoarthritis.

Affecting over 30 million Americans, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. AF and AOFAS announced their partnership at AOFAS Annual Meeting 2022 in Quebec City, Canada, and the grant application portal is now open for submissions. Three grants, each totaling up to $200,000 over a two-year period, will be awarded to AOFAS members dedicated to furthering their ankle osteoarthritis research projects.

“The Arthritis Foundation has been instrumental in funding research that has improved lives of those who suffer from different types of arthritis and related conditions,” said AOFAS Board of Directors Member-at-Large, Jonathon D. Backus, MD, from Washington University in St. Louis. “Through this partnership, they’re helping the foot and ankle specialty find new solutions to a significant patient problem that has been traditionally underreported and undertreated.”

Dr. Backus explains that patients with ankle arthritis tend to be more disabled, affected younger, and at higher risk of adjacent joint arthritis than patients with other major joint arthritides. The grants invite a broad spectrum of proposed research, including but not limited to:

• Optimization of biomechanics for prevention or treatment of ankle osteoarthritis

• Slow/stop adjacent joint arthritis in ankle or hindfoot, including subtalar joint

• Development of tests or assays using clinical specimens to detect the early stages of ankle osteoarthritis

• Development of therapeutics, including “orthobiologics,” that could modify the course of ankle osteoarthritis

• Genetic susceptibility to ankle osteoarthritis

“The Arthritis Foundation is boldly championing the fight to conquer arthritis with life-changing science, resources, advocacy, and community connection,” added AOFAS Board of Directors Secretary, Sheldon S. Lin, MD, from Rutgers North Jersey Orthopaedic Institute. “With such a partner, AOFAS can only win, as we work together to address this clinical challenge.”

Letters of Intent must be submitted by March 1, 2023, through the Arthritis Foundation online portal. Complete applications are due April 1, 2023. To learn more about the AF/AOFAS Ankle Arthritis Think Tank Research Grants, visit aofas.org/arthritis-grants.

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 the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society online at aofas.org.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is fighting for all people who live with arthritis. As a Champion of Yes, it’s the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to turn the obstacles arthritis causes into opportunities. The Arthritis Foundation champions life-changing solutions and medical advancements, and it also provides ways for people to connect, break down barriers in health care, and join the fight for a cure – uniting hearts, minds, and resources to change the future of arthritis. To join the fight to cure arthritis, visit arthritis.org.