Our wrap-up from the Global Podiatry Summit 2026, covering the science we shared, the conversations we had, and why onychomycosis deserves a bigger seat at the table.
The Global Podiatry Summit is the kind of event that reminds you how much is happening at the edges of a profession. Not at its centre. The centre is well documented. But at the edges, in the corridors and beside exhibition stands, that is where podiatry is actually moving forward. We had the privilege of being right there in Copenhagen, and we came home with full notebooks and an even fuller sense of purpose.
The summit, organised by the International Federation of Podiatrists under the theme "Brick by brick: building podiatry for the future," brought together podiatrists, researchers, and industry partners from across the globe. The programme ranged from AI and 3D printing to paediatric care, wound management, and biomechanics. It was the kind of breadth that makes you realise how wide the field of foot health really is, and how much cross-pollination is still possible between its many corners.
What the summit got right
One of the smartest choices the organisers made was the Skills Corner: a dedicated space for hands-on demonstrations rather than passive listening. Attendees could explore advanced insole technology, tools for diabetic neuropathy assessment, biomechanical analysis instruments, and wound care innovations (with fish skin!), all in one interactive area. For a profession built on clinical skill, it felt like exactly the right format.
The topic of health inequalities also featured prominently. Case studies on treating underserved populations, including patients experiencing homelessness and those with complex chronic conditions, kept the summit grounded in the reality that excellent podiatric care is not yet universally accessible. That conversation matters, and we were glad to see it on the programme alongside the technology and innovation tracks.
Our two presentations: what we brought to the table
FunghiClear presented two studies at GPS 2026, both focused on the management of onychomycosis, a chronic fungal nail infection that remains stubbornly difficult to treat with conventional therapies.
The first presentation covered our in vitro work on Manuka oil. We assessed its antifungal activity against dermatophytes, the primary microorganism responsible for nail infections. Using standard MIC assays and time-kill experiments, we found that Manuka oil and the FunghiClear blend showed potent activity at very low concentrations. Time-kill experiments confirmed no growth at 48 hours.. For a natural ingredient, those numbers are meaningful. They tell a story about a mechanism that we are continuing to investigate.
The second presentation moved from the lab to real people. Our 12-week clinical study across multiple international sites enrolled adults with dermatophyte onychomycosis and assessed FunghiClear® as a twice-daily spray alongside standard professional foot hygiene. Among the 192 participants who completed the study, 67% showed an improvement in OSI score, with an average improvement of 44% for those who responded. Toenail Rating improved by close to one full stage on average. Convenience was rated 4.4 out of 5, and no serious adverse events were reported. That is a safety profile that reflects what we set out to build.
The stand: busier than we planned for
We will be honest: we did not quite anticipate just how much traffic would come through our stand. It was a lot. Podiatrists, researchers, students, clinic managers, and industry peers all stopped by, many of them spending real time discussing the challenges around onychomycosis management. Patient adherence, the limitations of systemic treatments, the growing concern around antifungal resistance, the gap between what the evidence shows and what patients actually use day to day. Those are the conversations that matter.
To everyone who came by, who challenged our data, who shared their own clinical observations, or who simply wanted to understand how Manuka oil actually works: thank you. You are the reason we keep doing this work.
“What genuinely surprised me in Copenhagen was the depth of knowledge in the room. Podiatrists from all over the world, each bringing their own clinical experience, asking sharp questions and sharing what they see in practice every day. The quality of those conversations, and the warmth with which people engaged with our work, is something I did not take for granted for a single moment. It reinforced exactly why we are doing this.”
– Jan-Willem Eleveld CEO | President, FunghiClear
What we are taking home
Copenhagen reinforced something we think about often: the best treatments are not always the ones with the largest molecules or the longest clinical histories. Sometimes the most promising paths forward sit outside the conventional toolkit. Plant-based, well-tolerated, backed by growing evidence, and genuinely convenient for patients to use over the long term that nail regrowth demands.
We left GPS 2026 with new connections, fresh questions for our research pipeline, and a lot of energy. The field is moving. We intend to keep moving with it.
See you at the next one.