Project title      Triggers For Fibrosis In A Novel Porcine Gliding Fascia Model

Grant Holder:

1. Kavit Amin

2. Mr Jason Wong

Position:

1. EPSRC/MRC PhD student in Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester
2. Academic Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, University Hospital South Manchester

Date of award

1^st November 2016

Date of report

28 February 2017

Grant Awarded (i.e. £10,000)

£50,000

Is this an interim, or final, report

interim

Summary of progress /findings (approx 300 words)

We have been making progress with the ‘set-up’ of our project. This has primarily required assembly of the limb perfusion system, which is entirely reliant on NHS equipment no longer used for cardiac bypass surgery. I have perfused 4 limbs since receiving the award using consumable funded by the BSSH grant.

I have recently put in an order for the bulk of consumables that will be needed as most consumables are single use to avoid contamination between experiments.

What is the relevance/value of this research to hand surgery

Understanding scar tissue formation (adhesions) within the hand is vital to avoid reoperation with adhesiolysis and to develop future strategies and novel therapies at the time of surgery to overcome this problem, that most hand surgeons will have come across regularly.

If final report, please provide bullet point list of conclusions/important findings

Please list presentations based on work performed in this study

Please list publications based on work performed in this study

Please state what additional research this study has/is leading to

•  With the current grant we will also be able to evaluate which temperature the circulating medium (perfusate) should be set. This is largely known for solid organs but remains unknown in limb preservation for replantation/transplantation.

Please list any further funding or grant applications (with outcome), which have resulted from the award of this grant

How has this grant awards helped your career development?

• Achieving success in any grant application I have been informed is vital as this forms the basis of academic credibility and helps the success of future grants. I will always continue to work with and hold in high regard BSSH and I am pleased that my first award is from this society as I inevitably wish to become a hand surgeon in the UK.