Burns & Wound Healing Appeal

Every year in the UK, there are 200,000 patients suffering chronic wounds, and 350 deaths from complications. Also there are 2,400 third degree burn cases each year, half of which are in children, and 300 people die in hospital. Our Burns & Wound Healing Appeal aims to change all of this.

The aims of our research

Without skin cover to burns and chronic wounds, healing and the patient’s quality of life is severely threatened. We are currently working to substantially improve the conventional treatment with skin grafts, by developing a second-generation artificial skin biomaterial, the Smart Matrix, to rebuild lost skin. The rapid in-growth of blood capillaries into the Smart Matrix could make all the difference. You can find out more about our research here.

We need your support

Research of this scale is expensive, but the difference that could be made to patients’ lives makes every single pound worthwhile. By donating to our Burns & Wound Healing Appeal – or raising funds for it – you’ll be helping us to continue our life changing research, and deliver real change to patients. To find out how you can help, please email charity@raft.ac.uk.

Any questions?

To find out more about burns and other topics, visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Case study
Mary’s Story
“Several months ago a very small lesion appeared on my leg. I was referred to a specialist who informed me that I must have it removed and have a skin graft. I understood this to be a simple procedure and was certainly not prepared for what actually happened to me. Both the wound and the donor site became badly infected resulting in my being in constant pain and my wounds refuse to heal.

I have gone from being a spritely, active and independent 80 year old lady to requiring constant help from my family and friends. Professional carers tend to me daily as I cannot even have a shower on my own nor be self-sufficient. This whole ordeal has stolen my independence, my dignity and my self-esteem.

As a direct result of my surgery and personal trauma I understand how important RAFT’s research really is to the advancement of artificial skin and wound healing to benefit future patients like me.

I ask that you help spread the word about this brilliant Charity. Please give as much as you possibly can as every penny will help people like me to get their lives back.”