The Birmingham Institute of Paediatric Plastic Surgery (BIPPS) was formally established at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH) in March 2012. This coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital (Established in 1862) following through with the long tradition of clinical research at this hospital. It is the first and only formal institute of Paediatric Plastic Surgery in the United Kingdom and Worldwide.
Plastic & Reconstructive surgery and Burns research in the West Midlands has a long history of achievements. These range from pioneering advances in burns management, hypospadias correction, cleft lip and palate repair as well as craniofacial surgery. Furthermore, the West Midlands is host to the nucleus of the military medical services. This proven track record is documented in contributions to clinical practices that have been adopted globally as well as a wealth of high impact publications. These achievements have mostly been the result of work conducted by individual surgeons or units working independently in the region.
BIPPS has been established to formalise and further coordinate clinical research and training in Paediatric Plastic Surgery. An integrated academic research programme has been set up and clinical and academic partnerships are in place with the University of Birmingham, the West Midland’s Post Graduate deanery and the Healing Foundation’s Cleft and Craniofacial Clinical Research Centre at the University of Manchester. Further collaborations are in place with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England.