10045734FastHeal: A controlled-release dermal dressing for faster diabetes wound recoveryClosedGrant for R&DInnovate UKWe propose to develop a novel medicated dressing containing a molecule that achieves faster diabetes wound healing. This is a problem affecting 450,000 individuals with diabetes in the UK alone. It costs the NHS £900M annually in care (healthcare visits) and treatment costs (antibiotics, bandages etc). We expect our dressing to be able to achieve twice as faster wound healing following diabetic pressure ulcers formation. This is because the molecule contained within is capable of encouraging faster growth of epithelial skin tissues at the affected wound site. This could lead to faster recovery from this debilitating complication and less risk for infection, sepsis and amputations. When pressure ulcers develop, patients could easily apply our dressing onto the affected area and recovery should be much quicker than traditional dressings. We expect to save the NHS £350M annually in costs related to out-patient and primary care costs using our innovation. The funding from IVUK will allow us to develop a product that is both affordable to the NHS and represents good value for money for UK taxpayers. The primary beneficiaries will be patients living with diabetes and suffering from its complications as well as NHS which is already under immense cost and capacity pressures.