Conflict Research
More than 6,000 members of the British armed forces have been seriously injured or scarred in recent conflicts. Scarring can have significant long-term physical and psychological effects on conflict survivors. Our mission is to achieve scar free healing within a generation.
Conflict Wound Research Priorities
Future conflicts are expected to take place in unpredictable, potentially austere and heavily contested spaces and involve more lengthy evacuations. The emergence of new weapons will likely result in more burns casualties – beyond the gun shot and blast injuries we see in combat.
At the Scar Free Foundation, our research is focused on three main themes:
- acute wound care and diagnosis
- the biology of scarring
- life-long scar impact, revision and rehabilitation.
Centre for Conflict Wound Research
The Scar Free Foundation Centre for Conflict Wound Research is helping to advance the rehabilitation and recovery of servicemen and women wounded on the battlefield and of civilians injured in terrorist incidents. The Centre is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. It was opened in November 2019 by the Foundation's Patron Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex.
The Centre's research has the full support of the Armed Forces community and the close involvement of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, who continue to serve by using their experiences to improve the outcomes of future conflict survivors.
Research at the Centre is funded by The Chancellor using LIBOR funds. The £3 million grant was the largest announced in the final round of LIBOR funding and combines with an additional £1.5 million from the Foundation’s partners, including the Ana Leaf Foundation and JP Moulton Charitable Foundation.
The Casevac Club
The CASEVAC Club is a combat wounded community, comprised of people who have survived severe wounds sustained on the battlefield. The CASEVAC team is supporting studies conducted through the Centre for Conflict Wound Research Centre to help us advance medical science and treatments for all.
