£4.8m project to eliminate all scarring ‘within a generation’

THE NHS has launched a project to find medical cures for all types of scar as it opens the world’s first research centre in response to wounded veterans and rising crime.

Experts say they aim to eliminate all scarring “within a generation” and transform the care given to victims of trauma ranging from acid attacks and stabbings to terrorism and war.

Using money from fines levied against banks for financial misconduct, the new Centre for Conflict Wound Research at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital will investigate the fundamental molecular process that leads to scarring

However, it is already preparing to bring forward a new “battle-ready” transportable dressing that will speed up the healing of wounds, thereby reducing permanent scars.

The transportable dressing consists of a membrane impregnated with a molecule that spurs faster healing of tissue. It becomes moist once placed on the skin and is comfortable to wear, according to designers.

A handful of patients will benefit from the devices next year, part of a process that will see them issued to all paramedics. Officials say the centre has the potential to improve the lives of the estimated 4.5million people in Britain currently living with a physical scar.

These include more than 6,000 current or former Armed Forces members who have suffered serious injury.

Brendan Eley, chief executive of the Scar Free Foundation, which supports the centre, said: “The physical and emotional effects of scarring are serious and often life-changing.

“Our aim is to deliver scar-free healing within a generation by establishing a pioneering programme of medical research in the UK.”

Many of the more than 480 patients set to take part in the research over the next three years are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, Prof Naiem Moimen, director of the new centre, said the insights gathered from the spate of terror attacks last year would also feed into the research.

He added: “The number of acid attacks and stabbing victims is increasing and this is also driving our work.”

Conducted in collaboration with The Scar Free Foundation, the research will cost around £4.8 million over three years and £3million of this will be allocated by the Treasury from fines on banks for illegally fixing the Libor interbank lending rate.