01.02.11
Joint military-civilian trauma research centre announced
A £20 million investment in trauma and microbiology research will bring military and civilian doctors together to share innovation.
The DoH, MoD, University Hospitals Birmingham and University of Birmingham are investing the money in the new National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Centre for Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Injured service personnel are currently being treated there after evacuation from the frontline in Afghanistan.
Defence minister Andrew Robathan said: “The medics who work for our Armed Forces are recognised the world over for pioneering new advances in trauma care and quite rightly so. Those who have been injured defending their country deserve the very best standards of care.
“I am proud that the MoD is investing £10 million in the new NIHR Centre, which will allow us to develop new techniques to treat our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and allow military surgeons to share our skills and knowledge with the NHS.”
Initially, research will focus on resuscitation techniques, surgical care after multiple injuries or amputation, and wound infections.
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