Fellowship awarded to advance research on foot deformities in CMT
US orthopedic surgeon's work focuses on effective use of orthotic devices
An orthopedic surgeon at the University of Iowa has been awarded the 2025 Inherited Neuropathy Fellowship to advance her research on foot mobility and intervention in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.
The recipient of this year’s fellowship is Bopha Chrea, MD. Chrea’s work focuses on the effective use of orthotic devices — external devices put on the body to correct and support bone and muscle — to avoid surgical procedures and understand how to better identify individuals who can benefit most from surgery.
The fellowship will support research and patient-centered care to improve long-term outcomes for foot and ankle surgery in people with CMT.
It is awarded by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association–Inherited Neuropathy Consortium (CMTA-INC) Alliance to physician-investigators who are early in their careers. Recipients also receive support in the form of dedicated research time, mentorship, and CMT-focused clinical care.
“I am extremely grateful and excited to embark on this year with CMTA-INC,” Chrea, who specializes in surgeries for foot and ankle deformities in CMT, said in a CMTA press release. “I look forward to the learning, patient interactions, and chance to meaningfully contribute to the lives of individuals affected by inherited peripheral neuropathies.”
Fellowship aims to improve foot surgery outcomes for CMT patients
CMT refers to a group of genetic conditions that affect the peripheral nervous system — the network of nerves that control movement and sensation in the arms and legs. Foot and ankle deformities are a common symptom of CMT that often impairs individuals’ ability to lift their feet from the ground or causes high-arched feet as a result of the loss of muscle around the joints of the legs and feet.
Chrea completed her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Mississippi, and was the recipient of a foot and ankle reconstructive surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Developing the next generation of clinician-investigators is essential to advancing care and research for individuals living with CMT.
Besides her research interests and clinical practice, she also advocates for humanitarian medical missions and for advancing women in orthopedics.
“Developing the next generation of clinician-investigators is essential to advancing care and research for individuals living with CMT,” said Mary M. Reilly, MD, director of career enhancement for the CMTA-INC Alliance Inherited Neuropathy Fellowship. “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Chrea to the program and look forward to her contributions to the CMT community.”
The CMTA-INC Alliance was established last year with a $1.2 million annual funding commitment from CMTA. It supports studies focusing on genetic testing, as well as the identification of biomarkers, clinical outcomes, and natural history disease studies to better understand disease progression without treatment. It also aims to train future CMT researchers to advance the development of innovative treatments.
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