University in £48 million wound research hub plan

An education provider has unveiled £48 million plans to create a “world-leading” skin repair research hub.

The University of Hull is opening the Wound Innovation Centre.

Bosses say the venture will stand at “the forefront of global research… by delivering life-changing solutions for patients” across areas including wound healing, skin irritation and disinfection.

They add it will also ease pressure on the NHS, which spends around £8.3 billion every year – more than both obesity and cancer – on wound care.

Based on the university’s campus, the centre will be complemented by a refurbishment of the nearby Castle Hill Hospital to provide clinical space for early-stage wound treatment studies.

Backed by £16 million from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, officials say the “UK-first” endeavour has also received match funding from industry partners including Polaroid Therapeutics and Reckitt.

Mat Hardman, director of the new centre and professor of wound healing at Hull York Medical School, said: “It will be ideally placed to rapidly translate pioneering wound research into real-world applications.

“Current treatments are woefully inadequate, and we now have an opportunity to change that.

“By combining our remarkable expertise, we will help transform the quality of life for people around the world struggling with wounds.”

Ran Frenkel, Polaroid Therapeutics’ chief executive, said: “The centre will serve as a crucial hub for expediting breakthrough treatments, providing invaluable support to start-ups and established companies.”

Amanda Stanford, NHS Humber Health Partnership’s acting group chief executive, added: “As a major provider of wound care to thousands of people across the region each year, it’s exciting to be at the forefront of a partnership which has so much potential.”

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