Our Impact

We launched the largest global study on the psychology of disfigurement, leading to the publication of CBT for Appearance Anxiety. This essential resource is now widely used in NHS clinics to support patients. 

This 10–year, £10 million project focused on how wounds heal and regenerate. Between 2007 and 2015, the centre trained 8 post–doctoral fellows, 17 postgraduate students, and 20 undergraduates.

Our £1.5 million research centre in Bristol explored innovative methods to prevent and improve outcomes for children with burns. 

We opened a £6 million research centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, furthering our research into burn care. 

Scar Free researchers discovered a molecule that activates when tadpoles grow back their tails. Later research also revealed that the molecule plays a role in zebrafish heart regeneration. This exciting discovery could unlock future treatments that speed up wound healing and tissue regeneration in people.

It made a splash – the paper the scientists published was one of the most impactful papers of that year.

We established The Cleft Collective in 2013 to find answers to big questions around cleft, like what causes it and what the best treatments are. The study (still ongoing!) collects biological samples from children born with cleft and their parents, along with demographic, lifestyle, and psychological data.

10,000 children with cleft and their parents have participated so far, making it the largest biobank of its kind in the world. The data is available for researchers all over the world to use, providing unprecedented genetic and environmental insights into cleft and scarring.

Current widespread methods of detecting infections take up to 48 hours and include removing wound dressings, which can be painful.

In 2015, Scar Free researchers developed a ground–breaking new bandage. The SMARTWound dressing changes colour to alert doctors to infections. This invention will reduce antibiotic use, shorten hospital stays, and save patients from painful dressing changes.

We launched the UK Burns Research Network with the VCTC Foundation to make it easier for burns researchers across the country to work together. The programme is aimed at better understanding patient–relevant outcomes in burns and exploring the genetic clues that lie behind scarring in children affected by burns.

The Centre for Conflict Wound Research is a groundbreaking national facility based in Birmingham. Here, military and civilian scientists and clinicians are pioneering research to develop new treatments that support wounded service personnel, veterans and civilians injured in terror attacks.

The Centre collaborates with universities and hospitals across the UK, helping patients from the point of initial injury, through rehabilitation, and their return to civilian life. It was set up in partnership with the CASEVAC Club, a community of veterans injured during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We launched a multi–media campaign to highlight the dangers of hot drink scalds and improve the quality of burn first aid given to children. It was shared all over social media and featured on the news. We also sent resources to professionals across the UK, including GPs, health visitors, and childminders

We funded a project that brought together health professionals and patients to decide on the most important outcomes to measure when treating burns patients.

Over 700 people from 77 countries took part. The project produced a list of 7 metrics that can be used to measure patient recovery. This standard is now used around the world, helping doctors make better decisions and deliver consistent, high-quality care for burn patients.