Research & Publications
The science
behind every
incision.
Dr. Kiwanuka is not only a surgeon who performs exceptional procedures. She is a scientist who has spent years generating the knowledge that makes those procedures exceptional. Her publication record, 27 peer-reviewed papers spanning wound healing, scar biology, skin grafting, and clinical plastic surgery , is the foundation every patient benefits from, whether they know it or not.
25+
Peer-reviewed publications
10+
As first author
6
Major journals
"The scar is not an afterthought. It is the first thought. Every incision I place is informed by years of studying exactly why tissue heals the way it does, at the molecular level."
Dr. Elizabeth Kiwanuka, MD, PhD
Read: Why the Scar Starts with the Incision →
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01
Wound Healing & Scar Science
Dr. Kiwanuka's Harvard PhD research. The molecular biology of how wounds heal and scars form, and how to make both better.
8 Publications
2017
TGF-β1 regulates CCN2 in human keratinocytes via Smad-ERK signaling
International Wound Journal
Identified the molecular pathway by which a key growth factor regulates scar formation in skin cells, directly informing how Dr. Kiwanuka thinks about incision placement and closure.
2014
Cdc42 and p190RhoGAP activation by CCN2 regulates cell spreading, polarity, and actin disassembly in migrating keratinocytes
International Wound Journal
Showed how CCN2 drives the cell migration that determines how a wound heals, providing a mechanistic map of scar formation at the cellular level.
2013
CCN2 promotes keratinocyte adhesion and migration via integrin α5β1
Experimental Cell Research
Identified the specific receptor mechanism through which scar-regulating proteins drive wound closure. First-author original research from Harvard/Uppsala collaboration.
2013
CCN2 is transiently expressed by keratinocytes during re-epithelialization and regulates keratinocyte migration via the Ras-MEK-ERK signaling pathway
Journal of Surgical Research
Discovered that CCN2 appears specifically at the leading wound edge during healing, the moment a scar begins to form. The foundation of Dr. Kiwanuka's scar science practice.
2012
Harnessing growth factors to influence wound healing
Clinics in Plastic Surgery
A comprehensive review of how cytokines and growth factors direct wound healing phases, published in the field's leading clinical journal. The accessible translation of Dr. Kiwanuka's research into clinical practice.
2010
Inhibition of connective tissue growth factor/CCN2 expression in human dermal fibroblasts by interleukin-1α and β
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
Investigated how inflammatory signals regulate the proteins responsible for fibrotic scarring, with direct implications for minimizing visible scars in surgical patients.
2015
The external microenvironment of healing skin wounds
Wound Repair and Regeneration
A comprehensive review of how temperature, pressure, oxygenation, and pH affect wound outcomes, informing Dr. Kiwanuka's post-operative care protocols.
2014
Assessing quality of healing in skin: review of available methods and devices
Wound Repair and Regeneration
Evaluated every available methodology for measuring scar quality, establishing the scientific basis for how outcomes are assessed and optimized.
02
Wound Infection & Topical Antibiotic Research
Harvard-based research on treating wound infections without systemic side effects, directly informing Dr. Kiwanuka's post-operative infection prevention protocols.
3 Publications
2016
Topical minocycline effectively decontaminates and reduces inflammation in infected porcine wounds
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Demonstrated that topical antibiotic delivery at high concentrations outperforms systemic intravenous treatment, with implications for surgical wound management and post-operative care.
2016
Full-thickness burns infected with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be effectively treated with topical antibiotics
Wound Repair and Regeneration
Showed that super-therapeutic topical antibiotic concentrations rapidly reduce bacterial burden in infected wounds, providing a safer path to wound bed preparation.
2015
Topical delivery of ultrahigh concentrations of gentamicin is highly effective in reducing bacterial levels in infected porcine wounds
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Established that ultrahigh topical antibiotic delivery rapidly eliminates infection while avoiding systemic toxicity, a foundational principle in wound management protocols.
03
Skin Grafting & Tissue Regeneration
Harvard research on regenerating skin after burns and trauma, the reconstructive science that underpins Dr. Kiwanuka's approach to tissue repair.
4 Publications
2011
Comparison of healing parameters in porcine full-thickness wounds transplanted with skin micrografts, split-thickness skin grafts, and cultured keratinocytes
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
A landmark comparative study establishing the effectiveness of micrograft transplantation, published in one of surgery's most prestigious journals. First-author original research.
2012
Epidermal regeneration by micrograft transplantation with immediate 100-fold expansion
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Demonstrated that minced skin micrografts can regenerate large wound surfaces at 100:1 expansion, a breakthrough with applications across burn treatment and reconstructive surgery.
2013
Moist dressing coverage supports proliferation and migration of transplanted skin micrografts in full-thickness porcine wounds
Burns
Established that commercially available moist dressings are as effective as specialized wound chambers in supporting micrograft healing, simplifying the clinical pathway.
2015
Anticoagulants and statins as pharmacological agents in free flap surgery: current rationale
Eplasty
A comprehensive review of pharmacological strategies to improve free flap survival in reconstructive microsurgery, directly relevant to Dr. Kiwanuka's MSK fellowship training.
04
Clinical Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
From Brown University and Memorial Sloan Kettering, surgical innovation, reconstructive microsurgery, and clinical technique development.
7 Publications
2022
Reconstruction of Through-and-Through Mandibular Defects with the Fibula Osteocutaneous and Lower Lateral Leg Perforator Free Flaps
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery · Memorial Sloan Kettering
Advanced microsurgical technique for complex jaw reconstruction, demonstrating Dr. Kiwanuka's mastery of free flap surgery at one of the world's leading cancer centers.
2020
Traumatic Brain Injury in Trauma Patients With Isolated Facial Fractures
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · Brown University
National Trauma Databank study revealing the high prevalence of concurrent TBI in facial fracture patients, influencing clinical assessment protocols across trauma surgery.
2019
The Economic Impact of Flexor Tendon Lacerations of the Hand in the United States
Annals of Plastic Surgery · Brown University
First national economic analysis of flexor tendon injuries, quantifying the $240M–$409M annual burden and highlighting the need for improved treatment protocols.
2018
The Use of a Magnetic Port Finder in the Retrieval of Air Rifle BBs to the Upper Extremity
Journal of Hand Surgery · Brown University
Introduced a novel application of a breast reconstruction tool for foreign body retrieval, minimizing tissue damage during surgical localization.
2017
Multistep Approach for Improved Aesthetic and Functional Outcomes for Lower Extremity Wound Closure After Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Dermatologic Surgery · Brown University
Introduced a new multi-step closure technique for lower extremity wounds, achieving 92% optimal cosmetic outcomes with zero complications. A direct application of scar science to surgical technique.
2017
The use of Synthes MatrixWAVE bone anchored arch bars for closed treatment of multiple concurrent mandibular fractures
Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research · Brown University
Demonstrated a novel closed treatment protocol for complex jaw fractures using bone-anchored fixation, achieving stable healing without open surgery in all eight patients.
2013
Use of high-frequency ultrasound guidance for intraoperative zygomatic arch fracture reduction
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery · Harvard
Introduced ultrasound-guided fracture reduction to confirm precise bone positioning intraoperatively, improving surgical accuracy while reducing the risk of inadequate reduction.
05
Patient Health Literacy & Accessibility
Research demonstrating that online medical information is systematically too difficult for the patients who need it most, and what to do about it.
2 Publications
2017
Online Patient Resources for Gender Affirmation Surgery: An Analysis of Readability
Annals of Plastic Surgery · Brown University
Found that online gender affirmation surgery resources require a university reading level, significantly higher than recommended, contributing to inequitable access to care.
2017
Online patient resources for deceased donor and live donor kidney recipients: a comparative analysis of readability
Clinical Kidney Journal · Brown University
Demonstrated that transplant patient resources are written at university level, systematically excluding lower health-literacy populations from informed decision-making.
Why it matters for you
27 papers.
One patient.
Yours.
Dr. Kiwanuka carries knowledge she created. The CCN2 research, the scar microenvironment work, the topical antibiotic studies, all of it was generated in a Harvard laboratory, peer-reviewed by the world's leading scientists, and published in the field's most respected journals.
What this means in practice: when Dr. Kiwanuka places your incision, she is making a decision informed by years of published research into exactly why that placement matters. When she closes your wound, she is applying a protocol built on the molecular biology of healing. When she manages your recovery, she understands what is happening inside your tissue at a level no surgical training alone can produce.
For patients with scarring concerns
Dr. Kiwanuka's PhD research directly addresses the molecular biology of scar formation, making her uniquely equipped to minimize visible scars, particularly for patients with darker skin tones, keloid histories, or hyperpigmentation concerns.
For the athletic patient
Her research on wound microenvironments and healing optimization informs recovery protocols designed for patients who train actively, accelerating the return to full physical activity without compromising outcomes.
For every patient
A surgeon who has published 27 peer-reviewed papers is a surgeon who has been rigorously scrutinized by the world's leading scientists. The research is not decorative. It is the foundation of every decision made in the operating room.
The science is here.
The conversation starts with you.
Dr. Kiwanuka's publication record is the proof behind the promise. But the practice begins with a single consultation, one where she arrives with questions, not answers, and where your goals are the only goals that matter.
Publications sourced from PubMed.