Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies - Prof Anthony Bull
Imperial College London has partnered with Save the Children to establish a Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies that will study the impact of conflict trauma on children. Their unique expertise in the area will be used to influence standards and improve the lives of children affected by conflict trauma. The research will develop and deliver technology to address challenges faced by those treating children with blast and conflict injuries across the globe, including settings with limited resources. The initial focus of this new centre will be on those injured in Ukraine, addressing the immediate physical injury needs, specifically musculoskeletal and extremity injuries. The Centre leverages over 15 years of work in adult blast injury studies that has had a tangible impact in terms of:
- Changes in posture and placement of personnel in Army vehicles to reduce injury
- Informing DSTL floor mat design policy
- Informing NATO Task Force group concerning standards for accepting battlefield vehicles
- Altered assessment criteria for, and timing of, amputations following heel injury.
- Changes in clinical practice for pelvic injuries in Afghanistan and major civilian trauma centres
- Influencing the purchasing decision for 108,500 pairs of new Army gloves.
- Co-led the production and distribution of the Paediatric Blast Injury Field Manual, now used across the world and is available in seven languages
- Providing expert testimony for judiciary decision making at the Inquest into the 21 killed in the Birmingham Pub Bombings and the Inquiry into the 22 killed in the Manchester Arena Bombing, such that judicial decisions were made based on scientific evidence