Cynthia Formosa

Cynthia Formosa qualified as a State Registered Podiatrist in February 1989. Cynthia Formosa was awarded the Masters of Science in Podiatry in April 2003 from the University of Brighton, United Kingdom. She was later awarded the PhD in Podiatry in October 2009 from the same university. Formosa is currently working on full-time basis with the University of Malta as an Associate Professor inside the Faculty of Health Sciences. She sits on a number of boards within the University of Malta including Faculty Doctoral Committee. She has served as the Head of Podiatry Department for 17 years and is currently on 2-year Sabattical leave working or research projects, European Grants and publications till October 2024. She has published over 100 papers in both local and and peer-reviewed journals. She has also contributed in a number of book chapters. She is also a reviewer and editorial board member of a number of local and international journals.

EDUCATION

• February 1989 – Qualified as a State Registered Podiatrist from the Department of Health, Malta.
• April 2003 – I was the first Podiatrist in Malta awarded the Masters of Science in Podiatry with Distinction from the University of Brighton, United Kingdom. • October 2009 – I was the first Podiatrist in Malta awarded the Doctor of Philosophy [PhD] from the University of Brighton, United Kingdom.
• December 2017 – I was the first podiatrist in Malta to be promoted to Associate Professor – University of Malta.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Diabetes
Diabetic Foot Disease
Diabetes Education
Ethnography
Podiatry
Diabetes Foot Screening Guidelines

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Mental health status and quality of life in lower-limb amputees with diabetes
A Camilleri, A Gatt, N Papanas, C Formosa
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds 24 (1), 165-169 2025



Diabetic Foot Amputations: Engagement Still Needed to Improve Outcomes
A Gatt, C Formosa, N Papanas
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 15347346251316041 2025



On Wrist and Forearm Pain Experienced by Rowers: Can Mechanical Metamaterials Make Rowing and Coastal Rowing Safer?
JN Grima, D Cerasola, JN Grima‐Cornish, M Vella Wood, N Portelli, ...
physica status solidi (b) 261 (12), 2400289 2024



Handles with Reentrant Cells for Use as Oar Handles: Design Considerations, Physical Characteristics, and End‐Users’ Perceptions
JN Grima‐Cornish, D Attard, A Gatt, G Ficarra, D Cerasola, ...
physica status solidi (b) 261 (12), 2400300 2024



Dialysis treatment is an independent risk factor for foot morbidity
N Schembri, C Formosa
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds 23 (4), 533-540 2024



Prognostic factors and outcomes of chronic limb threatening ischaemia in patients post kidney transplant: a systematic review
NF Schembri, K Cassar, MG Littlejohn, C Formosa
Discover Medicine 1 (1), 80 2024



Development and validation of a new questionnaire for the assessment of patients with diabetic foot disease: The Diabetic Foot Questionnaire (DiaFootQ)
M Ruiz-Muoz, R Fernndez-Torres, C Formosa, A Gatt, AJ Prez-Panero, ...
Primary Care Diabetes 18 (5), 525-532 2024



Developing a Podiatric Telemedicine Framework for Service Users and Providers in a Primary-Care Setting
LAS Mercieca, C Formosa, N Chockalingam
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 114 (5) 2024



The charcot foot: an emerging public health problem for African Diabetes Patients
ZG Abbas, JK Lutale, C Formosa, A Gatt, N Chockalingam
The international journal of lower extremity wounds 23 (3), 464-468 2024



Superficial tissue swabs versus deep tissue samples in the detection of microbiological profile of infected diabetic foot ulcerations
F Camilleri Attard, A Gatt, C Formosa
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds 23 (2), 315-319 2024



Preventing Diabetic Foot Re-Ulceration Through an Innovative Pressure and Temperature Monitoring Clinical Device
CS Thorne, A Gatt, C DeRaffaele, G Attard, C Formosa, N Papanas
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 15347346241256159 2024



Diabetic foot screening guidelines and the role of artificial intelligence: time to turn the tide!
C Formosa, N Chockalingam, N Papanas, A Gatt
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 15347346241234421 2024



The Traffic Light System: A user-friendly alternative for gait data representation
C Gatt, A Gatt, C Formosa, D Sillato, R Gatt
Gait & Posture 108, 84-89 2024



Validity and reliability of the English version of the Diabetic Foot Self-Care Questionnaire: a cross-cultural adaptation
M Ruiz-Muoz, R Fernndez-Torres, C Formosa, A Gatt, ...
Frontiers in Public Health 11, 1326439 2024



Developing a podiatric telemedicine framework for service users and providers in a primary-care setting
LA Stojmanovski Mercieca, C Formosa, N Chockalingam
American Podiatric Medical Association 2024



Prognostic factors and outcomes of chronic limb threatening ischaemia in patients post kidney transplant: a systematic review
N Farrugia Schembri, K Cassar, M Gingell Littlejohn, C Formosa
Springer 2024



Extending the Scope of Telemedicine to Podiatric Medicine
LA Stojmanovski Mercieca, C Formosa, N Chockalingam, V Cassar
Collaboration across Disciplines for the Health of People, Animals and 2024



The use of foot orthoses for forefoot pressure reduction via calf muscle stretching. Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
L Thiaspras, A Gatt, C Formosa, N Papanas
National Institute for Health Research 2024



Screening for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Subjective Versus Objective Measures
S Pleven, N Papanas, A Gatt, C Formosa
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 15347346241295461 2024



Preventing diabetic foot re-ulceration through an innovative pressure and temperature monitoring clinical device
C Saliba Thorne, A Gatt, C DeRaffaele, G Attard, C Formosa, N Papanas
Sage 2024

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Negative Poisson’s ratios in tendons: An unexpected mechanical response
R Gatt, MV Wood, A Gatt, F Zarb, C Formosa, KM Azzopardi, A Casha, ...
Acta biomaterialia 24, 201-208 2015
Citations: 164



Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data
A Gatt, C Formosa, K Cassar, KP Camilleri, C De Raffaele, A Mizzi, ...
International journal of vascular medicine 2015 (1), 831369 2015
Citations: 153



A critical evaluation of existing diabetic foot screening guidelines
C Formosa, A Gatt, N Chockalingam
The review of diabetic studies: RDS 13 (2-3), 158 2016
Citations: 75



The importance of clinical biomechanical assessment of foot deformity and joint mobility in people living with type-2 diabetes within a primary care setting
C Formosa, A Gatt, N Chockalingam
Primary care diabetes 7 (1), 45-50 2013
Citations: 74



Establishing differences in thermographic patterns between the various complications in diabetic foot disease
A Gatt, O Falzon, K Cassar, C Ellul, KP Camilleri, J Gauci, S Mizzi, A Mizzi, ...
International Journal of Endocrinology 2018 (1), 9808295 2018
Citations: 60



Optimised cushioning in diabetic footwear can significantly enhance their capacity to reduce plantar pressure
PE Chatzistergos, A Gatt, C Formosa, K Farrugia, N Chockalingam
Gait & Posture 79, 244-250 2020
Citations: 55



Improving diabetes knowledge and self-care practices
C Formosa, R Muscat
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 106 (5), 352-356 2016
Citations: 50



Diabetic foot complications in Malta: prevalence of risk factors
C Formosa, A Gatt, N Chockalingam
The Foot 22 (4), 294-297 2012
Citations: 44



Hidden dangers revealed by misdiagnosed peripheral arterial disease using ABPI measurement
C Formosa, K Cassar, A Gatt, A Mizzi, S Mizzi, KP Camileri, C Azzopardi, ...
Diabetes research and clinical practice 102 (2), 112-116 2013
Citations: 42



The identification of higher forefoot temperatures associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus as detected by thermography
A Gatt, K Cassar, O Falzon, C Ellul, KP Camilleri, J Gauci, S Mizzi, A Mizzi, ...
Primary care diabetes 12 (4), 312-318 2018
Citations: 36



Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in ischaemic foot ulcers in type 2 diabetes: a clinical trial
S Perren, A Gatt, N Papanas, C Formosa
The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal 12, 80 2018
Citations: 34



A comparison of thermographic characteristics of the hands and wrists of rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls
A Gatt, C Mercieca, A Borg, A Grech, L Camilleri, C Gatt, N Chockalingam, ...
Scientific Reports 9 (1), 17204 2019
Citations: 33



The progression rate of peripheral arterial disease in patients with intermittent claudication: a systematic review
A Mizzi, K Cassar, C Bowen, C Formosa
Journal of foot and ankle research 12, 1-9 2019
Citations: 32



Agreement of clinical tests for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease
YM Azzopardi, A Gatt, N Chockalingam, C Formosa
Primary care diabetes 13 (1), 82-86 2019
Citations: 32



The application of medical thermography to discriminate neuroischemic toe ulceration in the diabetic foot
A Gatt, O Falzon, K Cassar, KP Camilleri, J Gauci, C Ellul, S Mizzi, A Mizzi, ...
The international journal of lower extremity wounds 17 (2), 102-105 2018
Citations: 32



Comparing Calcium Alginate Dressings to Vacuum-assisted Closure: A Clinical Trial.
IM Vassallo, C Formosa
Wounds: a compendium of clinical research and practice 27 (7), 180-190 2015
Citations: 31



Prediction of wound healing after minor amputations of the diabetic foot
L Caruana, C Formosa, K Cassar
Journal of Diabetes and its Complications 29 (6), 834-837 2015
Citations: 30



Automated Region Extraction from Thermal Images for Peripheral Vascular Disease Monitoring.
J Gauci, O , Falzon, C Formosa, A Gatt, K Cassar, K Camilleri
Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2018
Citations: 29



On the use of auxetics in footwear: investigating the effect of padding and padding material on forefoot pressure in high heels
LA Stojmanovski Mercieca, C Formosa, JN Grima, N Chockalingam, ...
physica status solidi (b) 254 (12), 1700528 2017
Citations: 27



Inter-rater reliability of four validated diabetic foot ulcer classification systems
A Camilleri, A Gatt, C Formosa
Journal of Tissue Viability 29 (4), 284-290 2020
Citations: 25

GRANT DETAILS

Malta College of Science and Technology: Thermal Imaging for Peripheral Vascular Disease Monitoring in Diabetics (TIPMID) MCST R&I funds–R&I- 2013- 028 ‘TIPMID’ - €200,000 [February 2014]

Erasmus+ KA02 ‘Strategic Partnerships in the field of education, training and youth’. Project title: PODIATRAIN - Open online course in new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of foot pathologies. €273,000 Project number - 2016-1-ES01-KA203-024997 [August 2016]. – LEAD APPLICANT.

The Malta College of Science and Technology: Auxetic Oar Grips for Pain Free Rowing (Aux-Row) MCST R&I funds - FUSION R&I Technology Development Programme 2018 - Aux-Row - circa €200,000 [February 2019].

The Malta Council for Science and Technology Ref: R&I-2019-005T Sit-Diab. Sit_DIAB - Smart insole technology for salvage of the diabetic foot – TDP Grant –€ 194,000. [15th January 2021].

CONSULTANCY

Both due to my role as Chairperson of the European Committee of Podiatry [ECP] and also as lead in Malta for Podiatric Education I have been approached by various countries including Romania, Israel, Norway and Chec Republic and Poland to offer consultancies with regards to the setting up and implementation of Bachelor Degree programmes in Podiatry and also Masters Programmes in Podiatry.