United Kingdom Defense Seeks Innovative Models for Treatments for Conflict Wounds

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) on behalf of the UK Defense Innovation (UKDI) is seeking novel solutions from industry that will improve the understanding and treatment of conflict wounds.

Conflict wounds, defined as an injury to skin, muscle, and/or bone at the extremities, are commonly numerous, severe, and complex, making them difficult to manage and treat. The environment in which care is delivered is likely to be austere, with long delays before patients can be evacuated to substantive healthcare facilities.

Despite advances in surgical and medical practices, conflict wounds often result in significant morbidity, infection, and contamination. A lack of relevant biological modeling inhibits the development of a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of these wounds and the novel therapeutics needed to treat them.

First, the MOD is seeking models that examine wound deterioration prior to substantive medical care and the impact of medical intervention during this period is of particular interest. The innovations must start from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 or above and progress up to a maximum of TRL 6.

Second, the MOD is seeking approaches that treat conflict wounds, particularly those that can be delivered early after injury by medically-trained, non-specialist users in austere operating environments. Ideally, proposed solutions should be portable, low maintenance, and cost-effective to produce at scale. The innovations must start from TRL 4 or above and progress up to a maximum of TRL 8. Proposals are invited under the assumption that they meet one of the two criteria above.

The MOD does not want proposals that tend to simple wounds or isolated injuries to internal organs, aim to model or treat non compressible hemorrhage (NCH), seek to develop hemostatics, constitute studies or literature reviews, or offer no real long-term prospect of integration.

U.S. companies have a worldwide reputation for innovative products, after-sales service, and training which makes them competitive in the UK market and with the MOD.  The United States and UK also share similar business cultures and business practices, which makes the UK an attractive market for U.S. suppliers.

If you have a proposal which provides innovative treatment for conflict wounds, or if you would like to learn more about security and defense opportunities in the UK, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.