Whiteley Corporation is excited to be the lead industry partner in the recently announced 'Effective management of Chronic Wounds' project in Round 13 of the AusIndustry Cooperative Research Centre – Projects (CRC-P) program from the Department of Industry and Science. The grant is focused on developing better treatments for chronic wounds. The partners in conjunction with Whiteley are Hunter-based engineering firm Ampcontrol, in combination with Western Sydney University and the University of Newcastle. Funding for the research Grant totals $5.6m over three years.
Effective management of Chronic Wounds requires a combination of treatments that includes wound debridement, an anti-biofilm treatment, wound mapping and a deeper tissue perception of bacterial engagement beyond the wound surface, which cannot normally be seen.
This project brings together a collaborative team to tackle not just each of these elements but brings them together – for the first time – as a singular approach to wound care.
"This work will be of major medical impact worldwide" said Associate Professor Greg Whiteley, Executive Chairman of Whiteley Corporation. "Chronic wounds start with a minor skin injury that doesn't heal but progresses to a problem costing $3.5 billion in Australia alone," he said.
Associate Professor Greg Whiteley also said "We're very excited to partner with Ampcontrol for the first time. This brings together two teams with exceptional research cultures in combination with two universities, also known for their excellence in research."
Ampcontrol Managing Director & CEO, Rod Henderson, said, "We are thrilled to be a partner in this industry-led medical research collaboration. The funding enables industry innovators, researchers, students, and end-users to work together to deliver real outcomes for our community, including job growth within Australian manufacturing to support our local economy."
Professor Zee Upton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation for the University of Newcastle said, "Our researchers are renowned for finding new ways to help people live better, healthier lives, we also have a strong track record of working with industry partners to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions."
Professor Slade Jensen, from the Western Sydney University's School of Medicine and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (IIAMR), said "Once established, mature biofilms become recalcitrant to standard therapeutics. However, bacteria within biofilms are not visible to the naked eye. This project provides a rationale for the use of novel strategies to directly and indirectly affect microbial biofilms and wound healing."
Whiteley Corporation is excited to work alongside their research partners to improve healthcare outcomes for patients globally. Success in this project will create better patient outcomes, decrease the cost of healthcare and sustain cutting-edge Australian research.
