Established in 2012, and led by Professor Iain Whitaker, The Reconstructive Surgery & Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (ReconRegen) has developed into the largest single centre reconstructive surgery research group in the UK, with a critical mass of clinical academics working across the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery and World Class Groups at Swansea University.

The ReconRegen group have received multiple prestigious accolades and awards and grant income of over £4 million from a range of institutions including MRC grants, Fulbright scholarships, Charitable funding and Royal College of Surgeons research fellowships. This work involves a group of highly motivated clinical academics working with inter-disciplinary scientists with the support of an experienced programme manager to push the boundaries of research within the field of tissue engineering and reconstructive plastic surgery and provide transformational change in the delivery of skin cancer treatments in Wales.

The research projects running in parallel (tissue engineering & 3D bioprinting and health informatics and transformation of surgical service delivery) will both address many of the Scar Free Foundation’s research priorities while offering cutting edge, personalised 3D treatment options to patients and transform the care of a multitude of patients requiring reconstructive plastic surgery.

The Scar Free Foundation programme of research supported by Health and Care Research Wales is a partnership with Swansea University Medical School, Swansea Bay University Health Board, SAIL Databank, Swansea University College of Engineering and the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery.