The global aim of the Network is to provide a technological platform for novel designs of medical devices incorporating matched interface materials and manufacturing capability, which will protect vulnerable skin tissues from mechanical-induced injury.
Successful collaborations within the MDVSN and beyond will facilitate multidisciplinary research and provide a platform for novel, translational ideas. This will be achieved by the coordination of a multidisciplinary team of academics, clinicians and industrialists, each providing expertise to fulfil a series of management, scientific, technological and clinical objectives as illustrated in the accompanying spider map.
These partners include:
Wound Prevention and Treatment (WP&T) - Prof. Peter Vowden (Bradford Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust). WP&T aims to transform the provision of wound care and prevention services, as well as assisting the identification, development and introduction of new technologies for patient benefit. Both the PI and Co-I are founding members.
Devices for Dignity (D4D) – Prof. Wendy Tindale (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). D4D delivers innovative technological solutions to support people of all ages with long-term conditions while preserving their dignity and independence. It focuses on the validation and prioritisation of unmet patient needs through its expert clinical networks to accelerate the design, development, evaluation and adoption of devices. With reference to network aims, D4D has interests in paediatrics, assistive technologies (e.g. pressure relieving devices for SCI), rehabilitation (orthotics/prosthetics), renal technologies and continence management.
Academic Partners
University of Newcastle - Professor Kenneth Dalgarno
University of Nottingham - Professor Stephen Morgan
Queen Mary University of London - Professor Ton Peijs
National Physical Laboratory (NPL) - Professor Graham Machin
Funding Partners
The Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin Network is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
