Research Impact List

Ballistic protection

A project led by Professor Spyros Masouros generated evidence to show that biofidelic backing is required when testing soft body armour. The results, obtained for two common ballistic fabrics across six different projectiles support the use of a biofidelic backing material in ballistic assessment of soft body armour. The results have been published in the Human Factors and Mechanical Engineering for Defense and Safety journal, presented in LWAG and in GEMS, and sent to contacts in DE&S and DRDC, who sit in the NATA STANAG committee (2920) for ballistic protection.

Blast mitigation

Work undertaken by Professor Spyros Masouros and Dr Angela Kedgley on quantifying the risk of injury to the small joints of the hand due to blunt impact, and a report on assessing dexterity and protective ability of existing gloves, contributed to a project that influenced the purchasing decision for 108,500 pairs of new Army gloves. Our work also contributed to a NATO report on the assessment methods and the crtieria for armoured vehicle qualification against explosive threats. This has direct influence on occupant safety of armoured vehicles.

Treatment of blast injuries

  • The Centre for Blast Injury Studies ensured the correct and accurate positioning of pelvic binders following blast injury and emphasised the need for training of military personnel in the correct use of the binder.
  • The Paediatric Blast Injury Partnership is co-led by members of the Centre and developed the Paediatric Blast Injury Field Manual to optimise the care of children after a blast event. Thousands of paper copies of the manual have been distributed to NGOs and the Field Manual is now available in paper and digital versions in nine languages.

External fixator

Developed as part of the PrOTeCT and iPrOTeCT grants, the Imperial External Fixator has been designed as a low-cost device, tested to international standards, that can be produced using locally sourced materials and minimal specialist equipment. An example of the power of this approach is that 150 fixators were produced in Poland to support Ukraine in the early days of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

 

 

 

Affordable prosthetics

A key focus in the Centre is development of affordable, appropriate prosthetics for use in different settings and terrains. Examples are the development of an adult and a paediatric prosthetic knee that can improve the function for users, and is affordable for those in low-resource settings. Early clinical trials have already produced promising results.

 

Research toolkit

A novel research toolkit of outcome measures/questionnaires has been developed and published opensource to understand the needs of children with limb loss and allow others to use the questionnaires in any environment, helping to support the needs of children with limb loss. To date the toolkit has been implemented in Cambodia and the UK.

Repository and dissemination of knowledge

The Centre regularly disseminates its research through academic journals and international meetings. It has also produced two editions of a book entitled “Blast Injury Science and Engineering: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers” which brings together experts from across the world to disseminate knowledge on a range of interdisciplinary topics.  

Forensic analysis

The Centre has provided expert testimony for judiciary decision making at the Inquest into the 21 killed in the Birmingham Pub Bombings, such that judicial decisions were made based on scientific evidence.