Tag: Events

The Centre for Trauma Sciences Research has been launched by Birmingham Health Partners members, aiming to advance the development of new technologies and clinical treatments for trauma patients.

Led by Ann Logan, Professor of Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, the centre will focus on enabling the translational pathway from conception towards clinical adoption.

“Worldwide, trauma kills six million people every year and traumatic injury is the biggest killer of people under the age of 40, as well as being the greatest cause of permanent disability.

“With an ageing population, it is also now a leading cause of death and morbidity for elderly people, second only to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

“Each year in the UK over 16,000 people die from road traffic collisions, interpersonal violence or falls from height.

“Trauma research is vital to help us understand how the body responds to injury, leading to improvements and innovations in diagnosis, resuscitation, surgery and intensive care.

“Only through research can we reduce deaths from trauma and reduce suffering for all trauma survivors.

“We are delighted to open this new centre, which will provide a focal point that links pre-clinical and clinical researchers working across wide-ranging translational trauma science projects.”

Professor Ann Logan

The centre will be supported by Professor Liam Grover through his role as Director of the Healthcare Technologies Institute, based within the Institute of Translational Medicine, which is advancing new technologies and treatments that encourage better tissue healing and rehabilitation tools to ensure people live longer, healthier and happier lives.

Close work will also take place with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC), the NIHR Trauma Management MedTech Co-Operative, the Scar Free Foundation Centre for Conflict Wound Research (all of which are based in the ITM), the Physical Sciences for Health Centre, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

The centre will also act as the hub of a national network of trauma science research laboratories, becoming the ‘go to’ centre for near-patient testing, consultancy, information and access to key academic, commercial, regulatory and clinical partnerships.

In addition, it will build significant research capacity by training a substantive cohort of early career trauma research scientists, both clinical and non-clinical, who will drive future trauma research to address a research capacity deficit in trauma in the UK.

HRH The Duke of Sussex met scientists and clinical experts from BHP founder members the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust during a visit to the world’s first specialist military and civilian wound research centre, hosted here at the ITM.

His Royal Highness visited the Scar Free Foundation Centre for Conflict Wound Research, a ground-breaking national facility based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, which aims to minimise the psychological and physical impact of scarring and limb loss among Armed Forces personnel injured in service and civilians wounded in terrorist attacks.

The Duke met with the University of Birmingham team behind one of the Centre’s flagship research projects, which is developing new treatments to reduce scarring.  The treatments, being developed by scientists at the University’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing and College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, include a laser therapy to correct historic scars and a pro-healing protein called Decorin being developed within a new biomaterial gel for use as an anti-scarring dressing.

His Royal Highness observed veterans, seriously injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, taking part in a workshop that is part of the Centre’s project piloting tailored psychosocial treatments to help them cope with life with an altered and scarred appearance.

Those taking part in the study have been recruited through The CASEVAC Club, which represents injured veterans, and the research is being carried out in partnership with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England.

“The Trust has a long and proud history of collaboration between both military and NHS clinicians and patients. This combined experience of treating both civilian trauma patients and injured personnel has led to the development of pioneering surgical techniques in the management of ballistic, blast and burns trauma, including bespoke surgical solutions for previously unseen injuries.

“To further this work through research will leave a lasting legacy in the improved rehabilitation of our most seriously injured patients.”

Dr David Rosser, Chief Executive, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Birmingham, was among those to welcome His Royal Highness to the Centre today.  He said: “We have a long and proud history of collaborating with partners to support life changing research and our work with the Scar Free Foundation and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust sees us combine our expertise with the goal of achieving scar free healing within a generation. I was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex today to see our crucial work in this area first hand.”

“Scarring not only has a lasting physical effect, but can have a serious emotional impact long after the wounds themselves have healed.

“The visible changes in appearance caused by conflict injuries that result in looking ‘different’ can be distressing for military personnel and their families.

“With the help of the people who have experienced this kind of life changing injury we can learn what support is needed by those affected, and develop tailored interventions for the armed forces community, an important part of our goal to deliver scar free healing within a generation.”

Brendan Eley, Chief Executive of the Scar Free Foundation