Design of Enabling-Regenerative Materials (DERMA)

Design of Enabling Regenerative Materials (DERMA) is a €2.7M EU Interreg 2 Seas project to develop novel dressings for the treatment of chronic dermal wounds. The consortium is comprised of the University of Brighton, University of Portsmouth, the University of Ghent and Eurasante, a business facilitator based in Lille.

DERMA will tackle the problem of advanced age or illness-associated inflammation, infection and ulceration of the skin, which costs the EU €6.5 billion per year.

Dermal ulcers and other non-healing wounds are a source of physical discomfort which often lead to further medical complications, and can release offensive odours that are distressing to the patient and may lead to social isolation and depression. The objective of DERMA is to develop new interventions for the management and treatment of dermal ulcers and related skin conditions, including stomas.

By addressing market and patient needs, the project will deliver advanced new technologies ready for exploitation by industry to manufacture improved products for the treatment of patients.

The objective of DERMA is to develop new interventions for the management and treatment of dermal ulcers and related skin conditions, including stomas. The technologies to be developed are; 1) a wound dressing with integrated odour-adsorbing agents to manage the release of offensive odours; 2) a diagnostic dressing to indicate the state of healing of the underlying wound, giving a visual indication as to whether the dressing needs to be changed.

lmpact is possible through changes to clinical practice in the management of chronic dermal ulcers e.g. analyses of microbiota of wounds versus applied dressing type at Leaf Hospital will inform future practice. Potential for developed dressings to be produced by industry for clinical practice.
Potential beneficiaries will be:

-elderly patients, cancer patients, diabetics, ostomates (improved treatment and quality of life)
-healthcare providers (better treatment options and cost savings)
-regional industry (boost for innovation, blue economy and sales).

Product prototypes will be supported with instructional computer animations and films for end-users; design progress will be documented using video diaries as an educational tool for other developers and users.


The technologies to be developed are;
1) a wound dressing with integrated odour-adsorbing agents to manage the release of offensive odours;
2) a diagnostic dressing to indicate the state of healing of the underlying wound, giving a visual indication as to whether the dressing needs to be changed.


Product prototypes will be supported with instructional computer animations and films for end-users; design progress will be documented using video diaries as an educational tool for other developers and users.