University opens state-of-the-art labs ahead of £48M Wound Innovation Centre launch

The £48 million centre – a national hub for skin and wound research – will open on the University's Cottingham Road campus in Spring 2026. Researchers will also occupy purpose-built refurbished laboratories at Castle Hill hospital to support clinical sample analysis, cell and tissue culture, high-level histology, and advanced imaging.

The WIC aims to revolutionise treatment for chronic wounds, which currently cost the NHS an estimated £8.3 billion annually, more than the combined costs of obesity and cancer.

Mat Hardman, Professor of Wound Healing at Hull York Medical School and Director of the Wound Innovation Centre, said:

“The Wound Innovation Centre will be at the forefront of global wound research, bringing together academics, clinical researchers and industry to develop new approaches to chronic wound treatment.

“We are creating a unique environment where world-leading teams can conduct discovery research and translate it into innovative therapies that improve health outcomes locally, nationally and globally.

“The newly refurbished labs at Castle Hill Hospital will support early-stage clinical studies, helping to deliver life-changing solutions and reduce the burden on the NHS.”

The new labs, housed in the Daisy Building at Castle Hill Hospital, feature world-class clinical facilities designed to support the next generation of researchers tackling major unanswered questions in wound care.

The WIC is expected to play a transformative role in advancing wound treatment, improving quality of life for patients, and confirming the University of Hull’s position as a global leader in medical innovation.