A new £48 million Wound Innovation Institute has officially opened at the University of Hull in the UK, creating a major centre for wound research and treatment innovation.
The institute was established to support world-leading research focused on improving the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds.
The project received significant funding support, including a £16 million award from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said people living with chronic wounds often experience ongoing pain, distress, and discomfort when wounds fail to heal properly. He explained that the new institute will help clinicians and industry partners develop faster and more effective treatments, improve recovery after surgery, and reduce pressure on the National Health Service (NHS).
The University of Hull described the region as an internationally important centre for health research and innovation. The institute aims to bring together researchers, clinicians, industry experts, facilities, and resources to develop better solutions for wound management.
The investment will support interdisciplinary scientific research, clinical expertise, and collaboration with industry partners. Researchers hope the work carried out at the institute will improve patient recovery and lead to life-changing advances in treatment.
Chronic wounds are a major healthcare challenge in the UK. The NHS currently spends more than £8.3 billion every year on wound care — more than it spends annually on obesity or cancer treatment. Despite this, many existing wound treatments still have limited effectiveness.
Working closely with industry and the NHS, the Wound Innovation Institute will focus on developing innovative diagnostics and new treatments for patients with difficult-to-heal wounds while also encouraging national and international collaboration in an area of healthcare that is often overlooked.
Chronic wounds affect millions of people worldwide, particularly older adults and those living with conditions such as diabetes. These wounds are painful, slow to heal and expensive to treat, costing the NHS billions of pounds each year.
A major problem is infection. Many chronic wounds contain biofilms, communities of bacteria that form a protective layer, making them hard to treat with standard antibiotics. As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise, there is an urgent need for new treatments that can tackle infection locally while also helping the body repair damaged tissue.
In 2023, UK health expenditure was 11.1% of GDP and Japan’s was 10.7% of GDP*
*World Health Organisation via the World Bank Group
01.06.2026.
