Our history
RAFT (the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust) was started 23-years ago by four consultant plastic surgeons, Mr Roy Sanders, Mr Brian Morgan, Mr Douglas Harrison and Mr Paul Smith. All shared a passion for supporting research and education in the fields of reconstructive plastic surgery and burn injury treatment. Because of this, they wanted to provide a place in Mount Vernon Hospital where scientists and surgeons could carry out research resulting in rapid advances in patient care.
Professor John Scales, newly retired from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and with whom Roy Sanders had worked with in the past, was persuaded to come to Mount Vernon in the role as Director of Research of the proposed research charity.
At this time Sir Robin Chichester-Clark heard of their plans and, impressed by all he learned of the enthusiasm and dedication of the surgeons, joined the team and became Chairman of the charity.
In the early days the charity had no 'home'. The directorate at Mount Vernon Hospital generously provided a couple of unused rooms, which became embryonic laboratories and an office. Meetings regarding fundraising and administration matters were held late in the evenings at various people's homes, but gradually the structure emerged and RAFT began to blossom.
1991
The charity was greatly honoured when The Duchess of Kent consented to be Chief Patron, and she continues to be a loyal and interested supporter of the charity and its aims.
1992
This year was a successful and busy one for RAFT, who were appointed Uxbridge Pavillion's shopping centre's 'Charity of the Year'. During this time, the consultant plastic surgeons handed over the reins to a new board of 'outside' Trustees under the Chairmanship of Sir Robin; Mr Peter Forbes; Mr Michael Garston; Sir David Napley; Miss Moyra Pim and Mr David Pollock.
1993
As RAFT began to rapidly expand plans for a purpose-built building were drawn up. After RAFT met the trustees handling the Estate of the late Mr Leopold Muller, the Leopold Muller Building was built and formally opened by the charity's Chief Patron, The Duchess of Kent.
1994
The Director of Research, Professor Scales, retired from RAFT's research and Professor Roy Sanders was appointed Director of Research. Professor Colin Green was also involved in RAFT and was instrumental in RAFT's research; he left shortly after Professor Scales. RAFT also reaches the small screen when written into the script of LWT's popular series London's Burning.
1995
The Duchess of Kent visits RAFT and formally opens the new lab. She toured the laboratories and was given an insight into the importance of developing synthetic skin for patients with burns.
1997
Due to the success of our research, RAFT was bursting at the seams with scientists queuing to use vital pieces of equipment and elbowing each other to get bench space! The best birthday present RAFT could receive for the following year would be the commencement of building work to expand the Leopold Muller Building. So, in 1997 plans for this expansion took place. The aim was to provide extensive laboratory space, a seminar room, a reading room for the researchers plus appropriate storage space.
1998
RAFT celebrates its 10th birthday and marks the occasion with a variety of fundraising charity events including: celebrity golf day; a clay pigeon shoot; a philharmonia concert; and a race evening!
2000
David Pollock becomes RAFT's new chairman.
2001
RAFT continues to progress with its projects including burn scarring, pressure sores, skin cancer prevention and facial palsy to name a few.
2002
The pigmented Lesion Clinic based at Mount Vernon Hospital was proven statistically to aid the early detection of skin cancers. The clinic was run by RAFT surgical research fellows and proved to be a great success in early diagnosis of melanoma.
2004
Professor Roy Sanders, one of the plastic surgeons who established RAFT in 1988 retires. He served the hospital and his patients with dedication for 40 years. RAFT also aims to develop an artificial skin material and investigates how to speed up the ingrowth of blood vessels into cultured skin to make it heal quickly and ultimately to regenerate a durable, visible scar-free skin.
2005
RAFT is a dominating force in plastic surgery research in Europe as reflected in the 2005 9th European Conference of Scientists and Plastic Surgeons. Twenty-five percent of all presentations came from RAFT and one of RAFT's previous researchers, Bran Sivakumar, was awarded the prize for his presentation on his research into Rheumatoid Arthritis. The other projects RAFT focuses on in this year are wound healing and burns, burns and anti scarring, hand surgery and Dupuytren's Contracture.
2006
An innovation competition is held by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the Innovation Hub for healthcare in the East of England and in this year RAFT and Mount Vernon swept the board, taking three of the first four prizes. RAFT receives a new piece of machinery, a confocal kit, funded by the Childwick Trust. The machine allows scientists to see live cells moving and reacting in real time.
2007
Dr Claire Linge, Deputy Director and RAFT's Group Leader in Cell Biology was unanimously chosen by all five judges to receive the London Biotechnology Network Bio-Innovation Award 2006.
2008
We celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2008. RAFT aims to work with the sunscreen industry to help develop better UVA and free radical protection and aims to develop testing for an individual's sensitivity to free radical damage, skin cancer and aging.
2009
Thanks to input from RAFT, the UK press highlights the definitive link between the use of sunbeds and skin cancer. RAFT explores this by looking into the damage that UV Rays do to our DNA and their relation to skin cancer. The Smart Matrix project also makes great progress.
2010
We are currently looking forward to our 25th anniversary with the creation of a strategic plan of action of how to take us there. Today RAFT continues to pursue projects developing an artificial skin and is also working in skin cancer treatment, prevention and education.
2011
This year RAFT has embarked on a new area of research called the 'Bionic Limb' which is working to create better functioning prosthetics.
As we continue to flourish, we aim to bring greater benefit and relief to patients- and that after all is what RAFT is all about!
Sir Robin Chicester-Clark
Michael Garston
