• Polaroid Therapeutics (PTx) and The University of Hull have partnered to launch the world’s first £48M international Wound Innovation Centre (WIC). 
• PTx, the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, and industry leaders have pledged funding to develop this state-of-the-art centre in East Yorkshire.
• Currently the NHS spends approximately £8.3 billion per year on wound care, more than both obesity and cancer.
• The WIC will bring together multidisciplinary experts to address critical issues in wound care, such as chronic wounds and antimicrobial resistance, accelerating research into clinical solutions that deliver improved patient care.

07:00, 27 May 2025, ZURICH SWITZERLAND: Polaroid Therapeutics (PTx), the Swiss-based biotech company, has partnered with The University of Hull, establishing a £48m  world-leading translational wound research centre in East Yorkshire. 

With a consortium of industry partners, the Wound Innovation Centre (WIC) will be at the forefront of global wound research. Research carried out at the centre will transform the quality of life for those impacted by chronic wounds. 

Currently the NHS spends approximately £8.3 billion per year on wound care, more than both obesity and cancer. There is a real and increasing need for effective wound care treatment both in the UK and globally

The state-of-the-art WIC will bring together academics, clinical researchers and industry to increase understanding of and develop new approaches for the treatment of chronic wounds. 

It will provide a unique environment in which world-leading teams can undertake discovery research and translate this into innovative wound care treatments, delivering direct improvements to local, national and global health and wellbeing. The new centre will act as a national hub for skin and wound research, catalysing new discoveries in this important but often overlooked area. 

The University has been awarded £16m from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. The centre will be match-funded by industry partners, including Polaroid Therapeutics (PTx), and Reckitt, creating a £48m research facility in East Yorkshire. 

As an emerging leader in antimicrobial wound care, PTx initiated its collaboration with the University of Hull to drive cross-disciplinary research and accelerate innovation. This strategic partnership is designed to fast-track solutions to urgent public health challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance, while fostering vital conversations around modern clinical protocols and delivering more patient-centred care.

Ran Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of PTx, said: “We are excited to further strengthen our collaboration with Professor Hardman and his exceptional team in establishing the Wound Innovation Centre. This pioneering facility represents a seamless integration of cutting-edge wound care research and real-world applications. By bridging the gap between Polaroid Therapeutics’ innovations and pressing clinical needs, we aim to accelerate the development of new therapies—especially in tackling challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and chronic wounds. The Centre will serve as a crucial hub for expediting breakthrough treatments, providing invaluable support not only to startups but also to established companies working at the forefront of global wound care research.” 

Mat Hardman, Professor of Wound Healing at Hull York Medical School and Director of the new centre, said: “Our new centre will drive world-leading discovery and applied research to transform the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds. It builds upon fundamental wound research within Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull across skin health, chronic wounds and wound healing, including and in partnership with industry and the NHS. This investment in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment will provide an environment where the next generation of researchers address major unanswered questions, delivering life changing solutions for patients who suffer with chronic wounds.   

“It will act as a national hub for wound research, bringing together University and industry expertise. This means the centre will be ideally placed to rapidly translate pioneering wound research into real-world applications. This will be unique in the UK, creating an environment to foster future national and international funding bids, and drive innovation in wound treatment, an area which is too often overlooked.  

“Current treatments for wounds are woefully inadequate – and we now have an opportunity to change this. By combining our remarkable expertise in wounds, with our strategic partners, will help transform the quality of life for people around the world struggling with wounds daily.” 

The centre will be located on the University of Hull’s campus, in East Yorkshire and will be complimented by extensive refurbishment at Castle Hill Hospital (part of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust), to provide world-class clinical facilities for early stage wound treatment studies. 

Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “This centre will enable a step-change in world-leading discovery research and innovation. It demonstrates the shared commitment of the University of Hull, including Hull York Medical Schooll, PTx, Reckitt and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to delivering world-class research and innovation to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, carers and their families.” 

ENDS






Notes to Editor:

About Polaroid Therapeutics:
Polaroid Therapeutics is a Swiss-based biotech start-up in the development of innovative antimicrobial technology. Incubated and spun off by Polaroid, the brand that pioneered the chemistry behind analogue instant photography. Polaroid Therapeutics’ mission is to bring to life the best of Polaroid’s vision of creating a more human and meaningful world through cutting-edge technology and research.

Founded in 2022, Polaroid Therapeutics is developing antimicrobial therapies based on proprietary antibacterial antimicrobial technology to prevent and inhibit infections in multiple indications, such as acute and chronic wounds. This unique technology is a breakthrough solution that does not create promote antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – regarded as the most prominent global threat to health.

Contact: 
Liam Rawson
polaroidTX@ragency.com