Fiona Wood and Harold McComb 

The McComb Foundation was established in 1999 by Ms Fiona Wood FRACS, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Marie Stoner, Scientist. It was named in honour of Mr Harold McComb FRACS, an internationally-respected surgeon in the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Inspired by Mr Harold McComb, the McComb Foundation will pursue surgical excellence through innovation in research.

"Through my career I have been very fortunate to be taught by some great surgeons, Harold McComb is one such surgeon. As a mentor, he reinforced lessons and demonstrated excellence on all levels. He instilled in me not only 'can I do better?', but also the belief that improvement and ultimately excellence can be achieved by logic, innovation and hard work."  Fiona Wood FRACS AM

History of The McComb Foundation

In Western Australia, the first patient to be treated with cultured epithelial autograph (CEA) was in 1990. The potential of the technology was recognised and such interest was stimulated that it led to the development of a Skin Culture Facility locally in 1993, with help of a Telethon Grant. Since that time the clinical protocols have developed to the current situation evolving from the use of confluent sheets of CEA to a single cell suspension delivered as an aerosol. Since 1993, in excess of a thousand patients have been treated with skin culture technologies. The service has provided skin cells locally in Western Australia, the Eastern States of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. This technology was used for victims of the Bali tragedy in October 2002.

In 1999, Fiona Wood (FRACS AM Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Director of the Burn Service of Western Australia) and Marie Stoner (Scientist) founded The McComb Foundation.

The aim of the Foundation is to advance the research and development of innovative tissue engineering technologies. To assist in the commercialisation of Intellectual Property developed by The McComb Foundation a separate operational entity, Clinical Cell Culture Pty Ltd (C3) was established in 2000.

The vision is to improve the quality of outcome through all these areas. with the aim of improving patient quality of life and return to pre-injury condition.

The McComb Foundation Inc shall use all of its charitable resources to ensure:

"The quality of the scar must be worth the pain of survival."
Fiona Wood FRACS AM