SALBIS project 3D-FootCare receives support from the ”la Caixa” Foundation to advance diabetic foot ulcer prevention
Led by Raquel Leirós at the University of León, the project has been awarded €23,250 through the 2026 CaixaImpulse Health Innovation call to advance the development of personalised, 3D-printed foot orthoses.
The SALBIS research group at the University of León is advancing personalised approaches to diabetic foot care through 3D-FootCare, a project selected in the ”la Caixa” Foundation’s 2026 CaixaImpulse Health Innovation call.
Led by researcher Raquel Leirós, the initiative has received €23,250 to help bring the technology closer to future clinical use.
Technology tailored to each patient
3D-FootCare aims to develop personalised foot support devices—insoles or foot orthoses—using 3D printing to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers and related complications.
The project combines biomechanical assessment, digital design and additive manufacturing to tailor each device to the individual’s needs. This approach seeks to redistribute pressure across the sole of the foot and improve comfort.
The ultimate goal is to develop solutions that could help protect the feet of people living with diabetes and support their mobility, independence and quality of life. The devices’ ability to reduce complications will need to be established through further validation.
From research to clinical practice
Following promising initial results, the project is progressing through further validation and regulatory preparation, essential steps towards potential clinical implementation.
CaixaImpulse support will help advance this process and the translation of research conducted at the University of León into solutions with potential value for patients and healthcare professionals.
Supporting innovation in health
The CaixaImpulse Health Innovation programme, promoted by the ”la Caixa” Foundation in collaboration with Criteria Bio Ventures, supports the translation of scientific knowledge into products, services and businesses that can improve health.
In the 2026 call, 30 projects were selected from 449 applications: 24 led by Spanish institutions and six by Portuguese institutions.
The selection of 3D-FootCare reinforces SALBIS’s commitment to addressing people’s health needs through research and translating its findings into healthcare applications.
