The Healing Foundation Marks & Spencer Reception, 30th November 2006, hosted by Mr Stuart Rose and attended by our Patron, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup kindly spoke, along with Stuart Rose and Healing Foundation Ambassador Susan Harrison, a survivor of the 7/7 bombings. Also in attendance were Healing Foundation Lead Ambassador, Simon Weston, OBE, Pam Warren, a survivor of the Paddington Rail Crash and The Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes, Chairman of the Healing Foundation. The evening provided an excellent opportunity for present and future supporters of the Healing Foundation to meet with our key figures and learn more about the importance and urgency of our work.

New award to Cardiff University and Morriston Hospital Swansea to establish UK's first and only major academic Centre for Burns Research

Cardiff University and Morriston Hospital, Swansea, have successfully competed against universities and hospitals throughout the UK, to host the prestigious Healing Foundation UK Centre for Burns Research.   The award signals a 20 year commitment, worth more than £10 million, between the Healing Foundation (a national charity funding research into all aspects of disfiguring conditions), Cardiff University, Swansea NHS Trust and Swansea University.

The Healing Foundation UK Centre for Burns Research will be established at Cardiff University's School of Medicine at its Heath Park Campus and at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital Swansea.  The Centre will focus on all aspects of research aimed at improving the treatment and long-term support for survivors of burns, addressing issues such as infection control and immunology, inflammation following major burns and improved understanding of scar formation.  It will also focus on important issues such as the psycho-social aspects of living with burn scars, long-term rehabilitation and prevention.

The Cardiff/Swansea team fought off UK-wide competition from leading universities and burns units including the University of Manchester, the University of London and the highly regarded St Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns in Chelmsford.  The bid was assessed by an international Selection Panel, Chaired by the Healing Foundation's Chairman of Research & Development, Professor Sir John Temple.  The Panel also included, Professor Sir Peter Morris, former President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Nuffield Professor of Surgery Emeritus at the University of Oxford, as well as leading burns clinicians and scientists from France, the Netherlands and the UK. 

Brendan Eley, Chief Executive of the Healing Foundation commented, “This award represents a major step forward in our goal to improve the treatment, care and long term understanding of burn injuries.  The Centre, once established, will provide national and international focus for burns research, education and prevention.   The Cardiff/Swansea Centre will become a global leader, improving the outcome for patients, enhancing our understanding of burns and offering hope to thousands of people, worldwide.”

Welcoming the award, Dr Brian Gibbons, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Health & Social Services said, “This award is great news for Wales.  It is a mark of how highly regarded the academic team in Cardiff University is and how respected the clinicians and care staff of the Welsh Centre for Burns & Plastic Surgery have become.  This is a great example of collaboration between Cardiff University and Swansea NHS Trust which has been backed by the Department for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks at the Welsh Assembly Government.  It shows the huge advantages that can be gained when research centres, clinical networks and NHS Trusts work together to benefit Welsh patients.  The Welsh Assembly Government welcomes this investment and we look forward to working with the Healing Foundation, Cardiff University and Morriston Hospital to help those affected by burn injuries.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, Dr David Grant, said, “This is an important development bringing real benefits to patients throughout Wales and beyond, which is why Cardiff University is supporting it with a £5 million investment in new staff and an investment of more than £4Million in new and refurbished laboratories.  The size and range of expertise in the School of Medicine, and its strong collaboration with our Schools of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and others, gives the University the critical mass which is essential for the development of health care in close partnership with NHS Wales.”

Professor Gareth Morgan, Acting Head of the School of Medicine, Swansea University, said: "We are delighted that the School's highly successful partnership with Swansea NHS Trust has been joined by Cardiff University to win Wales this prestigious internationally refereed UK-wide competition.  We will now move on the appointment of a Clinical Lecturer in Medical Microbiology who will work closely with the Healing Foundation Professor of Burn Injury Study to advance knowledge in the area of burns and wound infection."

Mr William Dickson, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Director of the Welsh Centre for Burns & Plastic Surgery at Morriston added, “This prestigious award - the first and only Chair of Burn Injury Study in the UK - will put Wales at the international forefront of burns research.  The Welsh Centre for Burns & Plastic Surgery and Swansea NHS Trust are committed to working with Cardiff University, the School of Medicine Swansea University, and the Healing Foundation to deliver real benefit to patients with burns both in the UK and worldwide.”

Stuart Rose, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer, has become the Appeal Chairman of disfigurement research charity, the Healing Foundation. Rose, who has led the M&S turnaround since May 2004, takes on the fundraising role following the retirement of David Jones, former Chairman of NEXT plc, who has overseen the charity's appeal since 2002.

The Healing Foundation, set up in 1999 to support research into disfigurement, visible loss of function and scarring, has raised over £6 million through a major donor programme that began at the end of 2002. The charity has established a Centre of Tissue Regeneration at the University of Manchester, has begun a major 3-year psychological research programme in Bristol and is soon to establish the UK Centre for Burns Research.

Brendan Eley, Chief Executive of the Healing Foundation said of the appointment, “Stuart will bring a unique energy, passion and flair to the Healing Foundation's 'big gift' fundraising drive. David Jones is tough act to follow but we are delighted to be so well served by two, such iconic business figures”.

Rose, for whom this is his first major public fundraising role, said “How could I say no? This is such an important cause - burns, scarring following trauma, children with congenital abnormalities. The skill of reconstructive surgeons, throughout the world, amazes me. I'm committed to help through my contacts and friends, and raise another £6 million to support more research”.

Mr Darryl Dunn , a plastic surgeon studying at the University of Bristol, has been appointed as the first Healing Foundation Michael Brough Research Fellow. The award is for two years and will allow Mr Dunn to pursue research in better understanding the spread of Malignant Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.  This award, jointly supported by the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, was made possible by donations made in memory of Michael Brough, the plastic surgeon who founded the Healing Foundation. 

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