Research Projects
Driving research
Help us keep developing Pioneering treatments to restore patients’ quality of life that have suffered physical trauma.
Raft aims to push back the boundaries of research using the very latest technology and pioneering new techniques and treatments to deliver results to patients as quickly as possible – usually within seven years.
Breast reconstruction after surgery
An estimated 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, around 40% of whom will undergo a mastectomy. Currently fewer than half the women in the UK who have a mastectomy chose to have breast reconstruction because of the unreliable outcomes of the surgery and the trauma of having to undergo multiple operations.
Bone regeneration
Severe bone defects and non-healing fractures caused by accident, disease or tumour removal are amongst the most debilitating injuries worldwide. Bone injury or deterioration can affect anyone as a result of accidents, cancer or disease, but older people face a significantly higher risk of degenerative bone disease and fractures which can often lead to permanent disability.
3D printing for facial reconstruction surgery
An estimated 50,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, around 40% of whom will undergo a mastectomy. Currently fewer than half the women in the UK who have a mastectomy chose to have breast reconstruction because of the unreliable outcomes of the surgery and the trauma of having to undergo multiple operations.
Keloid scar project
In affected individuals, keloid scars (or keloids) form at the site of skin trauma (e.g. surgery, body piercing or any injury) and aggressively outgrow the original boundaries of the wound, invading surrounding skin. Keloids are notoriously difficult to treat as often reoccur following surgical removal, at times worse than before. RAFT has estimated that as many as 1 in 300 people in the UK could suffer from a keloid. Affected individuals often have to live with itchiness, pain and discomfort. They may also experience social anxiety, low self-esteem and intimacy issues.
RAFT is developing a novel treatment which will be specifically designed to prevent the recurrence of the keloid after removal. This will transform the lives of keloid sufferers, and deliver cost savings to the NHS by decreasing the time spent on follow up and aftercare.