In 2009, the Healing Foundation's ambition to establish a major centre for burns research at Cardiff University had to be revisited as a senior academic to lead the initiative could not be appointed. Reluctantly withdrawing from South Wales, the Foundation has now developed a new research model which we are confident will deliver benefits for burn survivors.

In March 2010, Professor Sir John Temple wrote to the wider burns community detailing this ambition. A copy of his letter can be downloaded here.

Key partnerships are being established with the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research, the Welsh Assembly Government and the UK Armed Forces. The Healing Foundation has established a key allegiance with the USA Department of Defense initiative known as AFIRM (Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine) which currently represents the world's largest investment in translational burns research. In 2010, hospitals throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland will be invited to host one of up to three national research centres for burns. With investment provided for a senior investigator, PhD bursaries, research fellowship and essential clerical and research support, the five year, multidisciplinary programme is aimed at developing a new generation of surgeon, scientist and health professional dedicated to burns research.

An application pack will be available later in 2010 and more information will be made available here, on the Healing Foundation website.