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Hub aims to transform treatment for chronic wounds

Grace McGroryin Hull
BBC The photo shows a man in a black and white patterned shirt smiling at the camera. He's wearing glasses and has brown hair. He's standing in a laboratory, and is next to a microscope. Behind him is a computer screen, which has multi-coloured bubbles on it. BBC
Professor Mat Hardman wants local patients to benefit from new treatments developed at the institute

Staff at a new £48m research facility in Hull say it could "change the lives of patients" with chronic wounds.

The Wound Innovation Institute, based at the University of Hull, will bring together academics, NHS clinicians and industry partners to research the causes of long-term wounds and develop new treatments.

Professor Mat Hardman, director of the institute, said wound care was a major area of unmet clinical need, with the NHS spending about £8.3bn a year treating wounds - more than both obesity and cancer.

"We're working in partnership with areas around the UK to really bring together Hull as a hub for wound research," he said.

The photo shows a red brick building, which has various black-framed windows running along it. There are also black handrails leading up to it. There is a blue sign on one of the walls which reads 'Wound Innovation Institute.'
Academics from the university, NHS clinicians and industry partners will be brought together as part of the institute

"The treatments that are available for wounds right now work to a certain extent, but they're really not as innovative as they could be," he said.

"We hope to be able to better understand the causes of wounds and then develop much more effective treatments that we can get into the clinic much more quickly", he added.

Part of the institute is based at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire, where newly refurbished laboratories will support clinical research.

The photo shows a man smiling at the camera. He's wearing black framed glasses, and a maroon jumper with a similar coloured striped shirt underneath
Richard Coates took part in a clinical trial in 2023 which had helped his condition

The university said the institute builds on years of work in the field.

The facility has been match-funded by companies including Reckitt and Polaroid Therapeutics, alongside a £16m grant from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund.

In 2023, researchers ran a clinical trial with Hull York Medical School and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to test whether shockwave therapy could speed up the healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers.

Richard Coates, 67, took part in the trial. He said after several weeks his condition improved significantly.

"It turned out to be a long-term improvement to such an extent that three years later, after taking part in the trial, I haven't had a single problem since."

Hardman said the institute would run pioneering new clinical studies and that patients in the region would have the opportunity to be involved.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said the institute would help develop treatments that could heal wounds faster, improve recovery after surgery and free up NHS resources.

He added: "We are determined to support new innovations to deliver a health service which is fit for the future, improves lives, and delivers real impact for people."

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