New research facilities to advance knowledge of stoma and skin health

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street officially opening the Salts Academy and Central Skin Sciences Institute together with the teams behind both projects.

The West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has opened two new research and education facilities in Birmingham recently.

More than £2m has been invested in the Salts Academy, an education venue for health care professionals and the Central Skin Sciences Institute, an independent skin research facility.

Inside the main teaching area of the new Salts Academy

The Salts Academy founded in 2012, is a dedicated facility, providing education courses up to and including masters level for healthcare professionals specialising in stoma care. The funding has been used to add a lecture theatre, a library and clinical skills rooms for specialist nurses to visit.

The Central Skin Sciences Institute (CSSI) is a new purpose-built facility that will generate scientific data through research and testing to advance knowledge in the area of skin health and skin adhesives.

Through the centres, medical professionals will be able to gain new insights and understandings of skin health for people living with a stoma.

Commenting on the dual-launch Andy Street said, “The West Midlands is at the heart of the UK’s life science sector and so I’m delighted to help officially open these two impressive venues. Salts’ continued investment in R&D, training and education is helping the development of the life sciences industry across here in the West Midlands and beyond, and ultimately helping to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the globe.”

Skin laboratory scientist taking skin readings inside the new Central Skin Sciences Institute

“Salts Healthcare has been at the forefront of healthcare manufacturing for over 300 years, right here in the heart of Birmingham. Having seen the Salts Academy and Central Skin Sciences Institute in action I am in no doubt that the company will be making a positive contribution to people’s health, the life sciences sector, and the local economy for hundreds of years to come.”

The Salts Academy has partnered with De Montfort University for ten years, and more recently Birmingham City University, providing stoma care education for healthcare professionals and other healthcare workers in the form of workshops, study days and courses leading to qualifications at degree and masters level.

Angie Perrin, Clinical Education Lead at The Salts Academy said: “This new venue means we can expand our educational services for nurses that will, in turn, assist in helping patients. The specialist facilities will create the perfect platform for educators to connect with students and practitioners and provide high-quality evidence-based care education.”

Mireille Hamson, Clinical Research Manager at the CSSI said: “We believe that the Central Skin Sciences Institute will combine skin health research, with reliable, innovative testing methods and clinical expertise to generate both questions and find answers that can make a real-life difference.”

“Our clinical investigations will generate robust skin health data and knowledge that will support the research and development of new adhesive technology for medical devices and will ultimately change people’s lives.”

Founded in 1701, Aston based Salts Healthcare designs and manufactures products for people living with a stoma. Family-owned, two brothers Peter and Robert Salt are the tenth generation of the Salt family to be at the helm.

Robert Salt, Managing Director said, “I am so proud of this initiative, and the wonderful team that has not just delivered but has surpassed what I hoped was possible. The thought, the attention to detail, the care that they have put into creating the venues, I can do no more than thank and applaud.”

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