ALPS Founding Secretary, Ryan Crews, PhD, fitting a study participant with a removable cast walker (RCW) in the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research.
North Chicago, IL – Dr. Ryan Crews, ALPS Founding Secretary and Associate Professor at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University, is at the forefront of diabetic limb salvage research. Dr. Crews, alongside Dr. Noah Rosenblatt, leads a three-year, $848,596 National Institutes of Health funded study on the impact of removable cast walker (RCW) designs on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing.
DFUs, affecting one-third of people with diabetes, present a significant challenge. Dr. Crews, with expertise in diabetic foot complications and applied biomechanics, brings a unique perspective to optimize treatment outcomes. What distinguishes this research is the collaboration across disciplines and international borders.
Taking their research to Manchester, England, Dr. Rosenblatt and Dr. Crews’ grant incorporates collaborators at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and The University of Manchester. On a recent trip to Manchester, they focused on piloting study protocols already active in Chicago, engaging with MMU’s Sport Science Institute, and spending valuable time at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, enhancing the global impact of their research.
Co-Investigators Ryan Crews, PhD, (left) and Noah Rosenblatt, PhD, (right), work with a study participant in the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research.
This ongoing study, funded by the nearly $1 million federal grant, not only addresses the crucial issue of DFUs but also showcases the power of collaboration across disciplines. By evaluating RCW designs in healing, the research contributes to advancing diabetic limb salvage techniques, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to tackle complex medical challenges. Crews noted, “What’s great about this study is its intentionality to be patient focused. We’re flipping the script from ‘what will functionally work for an ulcer’ to ‘what will functionally work for the patient with an ulcer.’ Such an approach is at the heart of ALPS patient centered approach to preserving limbs.”
As ALPS celebrates Dr. Ryan Crews’ recent federal grant awards and international collaborations, it highlights the organization’s dedication to fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in groundbreaking research. Dr. Crews’ leadership exemplifies the society’s commitment to advancing diabetic limb salvage and eliminating preventable amputations over the next generation.
For more information about Dr. Crews’ ongoing study and ALPS’ dedication to diabetic foot research, please contact him at ryan.crews@rosalindfranklin.edu.