The University of Hull (UK) is establishing a £48 million Wound Innovation Centre (WIC), set to “become a global hub for advanced research and treatment in wound care”. The center will be based in East Yorkshire and is the result of a collaboration between academia, the NHS, and industry leaders, including Polaroid Therapeutics and Reckitt.
Backed by £16 million from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and the rest in matched industry funding, the WIC aims to revolutionize the treatment of chronic wounds—an often-overlooked healthcare issue that costs the NHS approximately £8.3 billion annually, exceeding the combined cost of obesity and cancer.
The center will bring together leading researchers, clinicians, and biotech innovators to develop and test pioneering treatments for wounds that fail to heal. These chronic wounds, which affect millions globally and particularly impact those over 65, are a growing concern due to their link to hospital admissions, antimicrobial resistance, and declining patient quality of life.
Professor Mat Hardman, Director of the WIC and Professor of Wound Healing at Hull York Medical School, emphasized the transformative potential of the center: “Our new center will drive world-leading discovery and applied research to transform the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds… delivering life-changing solutions for patients who suffer with chronic wounds.”
The center will operate from the University of Hull’s campus, complemented by world-class clinical research facilities at Castle Hill Hospital, part of the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. It will serve as a national hub for wound research and facilitate the rapid translation of laboratory discoveries into practical treatments.
Ran Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of Polaroid Therapeutics, praised the initiative as a model for combining advanced research with urgent clinical needs. “By bridging the gap between Polaroid Therapeutics’ innovations and pressing clinical needs, we aim to accelerate the development of new therapies—especially in tackling challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and chronic wounds,” he said.
Wound care landscape
Advancements in wound care include integrating biotechnology, smart materials, and regenerative medicine. These innovations aim to accelerate healing, reduce complications, and enhance patient outcomes.
Last year, Cresilon’s Traumagel, an algae-derived hemostatic gel, received the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for rapidly stopping severe bleeding. Delivered via a pre-filled syringe, it forms clots within seconds without manual pressure, making it invaluable in emergency and combat situations.
Other commercially available wound care solutions include Coloplast’s 3D foam dressings and Smith & Nephew’s negative pressure wound therapy. Coloplast has introduced silicone foam dressings with a 3D foam structure, conforming to wound shapes up to two centimeters deep, enhancing comfort and healing. Smith & Nephew’s Renasys Edge System, a negative pressure wound therapy, offers improved negative pressure wound therapy.
