Metin Yavuz, D.Eng., assistant professor in ’s College of Podiatric Medicine, recently received the Clinical Biomechanics Award and the 2012 Young Scientist Post-Doctoral Award at the 2012 Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics.
The Clinical Biomechanics Award recognizes outstanding new biomechanics research targeting a contemporary clinical problem and is sponsored by Elsevier Science Ltd., publishers of the journal Clinical Biomechanics. The awardee is expected to publish his or her award-winning work in the journal.
Yavuz’s work and research has been focused around an NIH-funded, three-year project on the prevention of diabetic ulcerations, which is a major problem among the diabetic population. Yavuz and his team, consisting of podiatry students Andrew Franklin, Rebecca McGaha, Vinai Prakash, Garneisha Torrence, Jessica Rispoli and Joseph Stuto, are determining the three-dimensional stresses underneath the foot of diabetic patients.
Yavuz says diabetic patients don’t realize their feet hurt because there is no sensation due to a complication called peripheral neuropathy.
“We are trying to create devices to minimize the ulceration rates, but we still don’t know the exact pathology of the problem,” Yavuz explains.
Yavuz has worked as an assistant professor since 2007 at the College of Podiatric Medicine, formerly known as the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.
“Dr. Yavuz is very intelligent and committed to his field of study. He is a valuable asset to the college,” says Vincent Hetherington, senior associate dean for the College of Podiatric Medicine. “His cutting-edge research will define the role that shear forces play in the development of diabetic foot ulcers.”
Currently, Yavuz is collaborating with a biomedical engineering company on a smart footwear idea. The footwear would collect various data such as three-dimensional stresses and temperature within the shoe and also count the number of steps a patient takes every day.
For more information about the College of Podiatric Medicine, visit www.kent.edu/cpm/.