The South West Burns Clinical Network promotes research and development initiatives undertaken by burns professionals across the Network.    We aim to support the early and systematic adoption of innovation and research across the Network.   

The five burn services within the Network have a strong background in burns research.

The Network has recently set up a South West Burns Research Collaborative Group which brings together members of the Burns multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) from all five specialist burns services within our Network (North Bristol NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol, Salisbury, Plymouth and Swansea) and academics from several universities including University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of the West of England and Swansea University) who have an interest, or are already involved, in burns research.  Chris Wearn, Consultant Burns Surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust Chairs this group. 

The aim of the group is to foster a focused collaborative approach to developing research hypotheses, grant applications, clinical trials and in general provide a supportive environment for experienced and budding researchers.  In particular, to bring researchers together to focus on the recently published ‘Top ten research priorities in global burns care: findings from the James Lind Alliance Global Burns Research Priority Setting Partnership’ June 2025

The South West Burns Research Collaborative Group main outputs will be:

• Agree a yearly work plan
• Develop a communication strategy to promote the Group with the Network membership and what support can be offered to new researchers.
• Deliver an annual research showcase conference (SW Burns Research Collaborative Forum).
• Develop a Research page on the SW Burns Clinical Network website.
• Produce a yearly report to the Network Board and the British Burn Association Research Specialist Interest Group.
• Develop a South West epidemiological model to ensure biological samples and data are shared.
• Combine England and Wales data/record sets for powerful epidemiological studies
• Provide minutes of meetings and progress against action log

Related documents:

SW Burns Research Collaborative Group Terms of Reference

Restore is a Medical charity advancing burns and scar research. They also award fellowships for innovative investigations into wound and scar management.Visit the Restore website for further information.