RAFT, medical research charity working on chronic wound healing, is in discussion with The Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) to bring about a collaboration to help those suffering acid violence - a form of premeditated violence, usually against women, involving throwing corrosive acid at the face of the victim. Acid violence rarely kills but always destroys lives, often young lives. Survivors of an acid attack, even if they are able to get good and prompt attention will have permanent scarring and disfigurement.  This is where a collaboration between the two charities working together could help. Our researchers hope that RAFT’s new ‘Smart Matrix’, a superior method of wound management, will help these patients by speeding up the healing process and achieve better clinical outcomes.  The intention is that RAFT will help to fund a Surgeon from South Asia to spend a year at its laboratories in the UK to help translate the synthetic skin for use in all forms of burns and chronic wounds.

RAFT is funded through charitable donations. If you feel you might be able to support us and help change the quality of life for these patients who so desperately need this new skin - see our website at www.raft.ac.uk - it could change their lives!