'We have seen what I can only describe as miraculous results using spray-on skin with patients surviving 90% burns who otherwise had very little chance of survival.'

Researchers are undertaking the first controlled clinical study to examine the effectiveness of the technique at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Britain.

"In pilot studies, we get the impression that wounds heal noticeably quicker with less scarring using this spray-on method with skin cells," said consultant plastic surgeon Phil Gilbert, who specializes in burns.

"We now need to quantify how good it is at saving lives, repairing wounds and reducing the cost of caring for burns victims to the NHS," he added.

'Miraculous Results'

Skin cells have been grown in the laboratory since the mid-1970s, but until now there has not been a significant scientifically controlled study.

"We will be conducting the multi-center study on two groups of patients; 24 adults with severe burns and 50 children aged between 12 and 36 months with scalds," noted Dr. Liz James, a cell culture scientist at the Queen Victoria Hospital.

"We have seen what I can only describe as miraculous results using spray-on skin with patients surviving 90% burns who otherwise had very little chance of survival," she remarked.

Childhood Accidents

Scalding is one of the most common reasons for children to be taken to hospitals.

"We admit 300 pediatric cases a year; of these, 200 are as a result of scalding," said Amanda Wood, head of the pediatric burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital.

"Until now, children with scalds have been at a high risk of developing scars," she noted. "We hope that this study will show that they need not be left with a lifetime's reminder of a childhood accident."