The Birmingham Centre for Burns Research is playing a key role in a new initiative to achieve scar free healing within a generation.

The Scar Free Foundation, a national charity directing world leading medical research into wound healing, scarring and the psychological effects of disfigurement, announced the UK-led initiative at The Royal College of Surgeons London.

The launch saw the publication of the Scar Free Strategy, which aims to drive a global programme of research towards a medical revolution ‘as important as the discovery of antibiotics or the development of modern anaesthetics’.

Experts agree that the time has never been better to set out on this road to discovery and the UK is uniquely placed to lead the campaign with world-leading bioscience research at top universities and the unique research opportunities offered by the NHS.

Formerly the Healing Foundation, The Scar Free Foundation is building on 15 years of research success in relevant areas, including the establishment of a national network of burns research in the UK.

The centre, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), is already part of that network, undertaking research into the prevention and clinical management of burns across four universities and three hospitals, and will now play a crucial part in delivering the Scar Free Strategy.

Centre Director, Mr Naiem Moiemen, said: “In the UK, around 10,000 people survive a serious burn every year with over 7,000 people being admitted for hospital treatment. Children under five are most affected and the most common burn is scalding.

“A great many of those concerned have to come to terms with unsightly scarring that all too often leads to functional impairment and significant psychological damage.

“Finding ways to minimise and prevent that scarring would improve the quality of life of thousands of patients after a burn injury and much of our research is focused on doing that, with many very promising projects already underway.”

Professor Maggie Dallman, Associate Provost of Imperial College London and one of the authors of the strategy, added: “Scarring is common, costly and deeply affects those it touches as well as the people closest to them - while internal scarring can be life threatening.

“The Scar Free Foundation is starting a globally significant movement, and we recognise the enormous challenge.

“We will achieve scar free healing within a generation and make happen one of the most important new developments medicine and modern healthcare has ever seen.”