ForceRepair - Innovative chronic wound treatment

A wound is the destruction of the continuity of the skin. Chronic wounds, clinically defined as wounds that usually do not heal in less than three months, affect up to 2% of the population in the industrialised world, with the number of incidents expected to increase significantly over the next few years. In Europe, 2-4% of total healthcare expenditure is spent on wound treatment. However, current therapies remain inadequate and costly. Medical devices for the treatment of chronic wounds have so far failed to achieve reliable skin regeneration and reduce scarring. Therefore, the new research project FORCE REPAIR aims to advance chronic wound management by developing an intelligent, multifunctional and cost-effective 3D-printed wound dressing to control bacterial infection and inflammation. The novel biomaterial-based therapy will relieve skin tension and stimulate healing by combining innovative biocompatible technologies with pro-regenerative agents. The project brings together 14 partners from 7 European member states. The project will receive a total of more than EUR 5 million in funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme over the next four years.