A new national research institute has been launched in Hull to confront the 'overlooked' health crisis of chronic wounds, which cost the NHS an estimated £8.3 billion annually. The University of Hull’s £48 million Wound Innovation Institute aims to spearhead research into conditions affecting approximately 2.2 million people across the UK, leading to persistent pain and reduced mobility.
Professor Matthew Hardman, the institute’s director, said: 'For too long, chronic wounds have quietly cost the NHS billions and had a devastating impact on quality of life. The Wound Innovation Institute exists to change that. We’re delivering world-leading research that translates directly into better care, faster recovery and easing pressure on NHS services.'
Officially opening on Friday, the institute brings together academic research, clinical expertise, and private sector manufacturing. A primary focus will be improving outcomes for individuals with diabetic foot ulcers, an area often neglected. Around 90,000 people in the UK with diabetes suffer from foot ulcers, and more than half fail to heal within a year, escalating the risk of serious infection and lower-limb amputation.
The institute is also pioneering efforts to transform recovery after below-the-knee amputations, including testing a heat-remouldable prosthetic socket developed by Amparo Prosthetics, already deployed in conflict zones such as Gaza.
The University of Hull secured a £16 million grant from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, with additional funding from industry partners including Polaroid Therapeutics and Reckitt. Science minister Lord Vallance said: 'People living with chronic wounds that fail to heal are forced to struggle on in distress and discomfort. That’s why we are determined to support new innovations to deliver a health service which is fit for the future.'
