Developing New Treatments

As well as treating patients with novel treatments, scientists at the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation are constantly trying to improve these treatments and develop entirely new ones through a sustained programme of scientific research. Much of this research is conducted ‘in vitro’ using cells or small pieces of skin (explants) grown in the laboratory. We can use these to test new ideas and gain a better understanding of the fundamental processes which occur during wound repair.

New materials for treating burns

The first stage in the treatment of patients who have suffered full thickness burns is the rapid closure of the burn wound. This provides an instant barrier to bacterial invasion of the wound and prevents fluid loss. Surgeons currently use donated cadaver skin which is rejected several weeks after application but provides temporary wound closure. Artificial collagen based skin substitutes are also used which require a second skin graft. These materials are extremely costly however, making their use outside of wealthy developed countries prohibitively expensive. Scientists at the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation are developing a novel wound repair material which can be manufactured at low cost and provide an alternative to these methods of treatment. It is hoped that such a material will find use in developing countries where the incidence of burn injuries is much higher and current treatments are much less effective. This new material has been found to have anti-microbial qualities and is extremely well tolerated by the body showing great potential as a wound repair material.