Est. 2025 · Founding Research Collective
International Society for Footwear Research & Innovation
Independent research. Better footwear. Fewer injuries.
Physicians
Represented
Publications
Our Mission
Evidence over endorsement.
Our group has been created to help evaluate, prevent & promote education on injuries related to footwear and inserts/foot orthoses.
We wish to leverage our collective resources, training and interests to help industry better create better products for the general and athletic populations. Via surveys of practitioners and the public, as well as specific research and product design enhancement, we feel we can help provide evidence-based guidelines.
Many of us have worked on projects for various shoe companies but are not contracted with any, in order to be “intellectually honest” and transparent. Please reach out to the individuals below for more information.
Founding Members
Together in Herzogenaurach, Germany, December 2025.
Founding members from left to right: Drs. Karli Richards, Elizabeth Bondi (seated), Paul Langer, Bhavesh Shah, Amol Saxena (seated) & Jay Spector, with statue of Adi Dassler, December 2025. Missing: Dr. Maggie Fournier.
Founding Members
The physicians behind the research.
Twelve sports-medicine specialists across four countries, each contributing independent research on footwear, biomechanics and injury prevention.
Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH
Founding Member
Past-President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
Recent publications & projects
- Football Cleats and injury patterns in 14 to 19 year old females — Sport Health, 2026
- Orthotics and Shoes for sportspersons (Dhillon ed) — Handbook of Sports Medicine and Injury in the Foot and Ankle, 2026
- Biomechanics associated with bone stress injuries while using advanced footwear technology in elite distance runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Advanced Footwear Technology versus Minimalist Footwear for Injury Prevention and Performance in Runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Bone Stress Injuries using carbon fiber plate footwear — Sports Medicine, 2023
Maggie Fournier, DPM
Founding Member
Emplify Health by Gundersen; Past-President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
Recent publications & projects
- Effect of Walking and Running Speed of First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Motion in Runners — Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Trauma, 2026
Karli Richards, DPM, MHA, FACFAS, CWSP
Founding Member
Lexington Health Podiatry & Sports Medicine; Faculty, Sports Medicine Fellowship; Chief Medical Advisor, The Power Lab; Podiatric Medical Content Advisor, U.S. Soccer
Current research, projects & publications
- Survey of female soccer players on injury patterns associated with cleated footwear, surfaces, menstrual cycle, rest, and strength and conditioning protocols
- Independent biomechanical study of 6–7 soccer cleats engineered for the female foot
- Medical Advisor for The Power Lab, an injury-prevention platform for female soccer players
- Education content on injury prevention for female soccer players with U.S. Soccer
- Football Cleats and injury patterns in 14 to 19 year old females — Sport Health Journal, 2026
- Orthotics and Shoes for sports persons (Dhillon ed) — Handbook of Sports Medicine and Injury in the Foot and Ankle, 2026
Paul Langer, DPM
Founding Member
Past-President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
Recent publications & projects
- Orthotics and Shoes for sportspersons (Dhillon ed) — Handbook of Sports Medicine and Injury in the Foot and Ankle, 2026
- 3D Printing Enables Dose-Response Approach to Foot Orthotic Therapy — Lower Extremity Review, 2025
- Athletic Footwear & Orthoses in Sports Medicine, Assistant Editor — Springer, 2017
Bhavesh Shah, DPM, MBA, EdD
Founding Member
Co-Director, Complex Foot & Ankle Reconstruction Series & Operation Footprint
Research & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Elizabeth Bondi, DPM, MS
Founding Member
Consultant, Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedics, Rochester, MN; Incoming President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
Research & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Jay Spector, DPM
Founding Member
Atlanta Sports Podiatry; Past-President, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
Research & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Mark Mendeszoon, DPM
Downtown Physicians
Research & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Adam Tenforde, MD
Spaulding Clinic/MGB
Recent publications & projects
- Biomechanics associated with bone stress injuries while using advanced footwear technology in elite distance runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Advanced Footwear Technology versus Minimalist Footwear for Injury Prevention and Performance in Runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Bone Stress Injuries using carbon fiber plate footwear — Sports Medicine, 2023
- Research on Advanced Footwear Technology ongoing
Ludger Gerdesmeyer, MD, PhD
Chairman and Professor, Mare Clinic Kiel Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology; Head of Orthopedic Department, Park Clinic, Kiel, Germany
Research & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Karsten Hollander, MD
Professorship for Sports Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, Germany
Recent publications & projects
- Biomechanics associated with bone stress injuries while using advanced footwear technology in elite distance runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Advanced Footwear Technology versus Minimalist Footwear for Injury Prevention and Performance in Runners — Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2026
- Bone Stress Injuries using carbon fiber plate footwear — Sports Medicine, 2023
Miriam Birth, MD
MB Medtech Advisory, Singapore
Foot & Ankle Orthopedic Surgeon, German Association for Foot & Ankle Surgery, Board Member
Publications & projects
Publications & projects — TBD.
Jay Spector, Amol Saxena, Ludger Gerdesmeyer, Adam Tenforde, Liz Bondi at American Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment, Boston 2026