The Journey Behind KeraVet Gel
Our keratin-based technology has supported healing on the battlefield, in breast cancer centers, and now in veterinary hospitals across the country.
First, It Started on the Battlefield
In 2008, a team of entrepreneurs, scientists, and U.S. military veterans, including our CEO Dr. Luke Burnett, partnered with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine to tackle one of medicine’s toughest challenges: helping heal traumatic battlefield injuries.
Their research led to a key discovery. Keratin, the same protein found in skin, hair, and nails, plays an active role in the healing process. That discovery became the foundation of KeraNetics™ (KeraVet Bio’s parent company) and led to two FDA-cleared wound care products, KeraStat® Gel and KeraStat® Cream.
Then, It Helped Cancer Patients Heal More Comfortably
The science expanded into oncology, where KeraStat Cream became a trusted tool among radiation oncologists treating radiation dermatitis. Radiation therapy can cause painful skin injury including ulceration, redness, itching, and flaking in up to 95% of patients.1 KeraStat Cream helps address this unmet need by supporting healing when traditional topical therapies often fall short. As the technology continued to prove itself in human medicine, we saw an opportunity to bring keratin-based wound care to veterinary patients.
Now, It’s Helping Pets Heal, Too
We knew the same science could benefit animals, so we adapted the same keratin-powered technology for veterinary use. There was just one problem. Animals love the taste of keratin. To address this—and the real-world challenges of E-collars, secondary bandaging, and self-trauma during recovery, our scientists added a safe, highly effective bitterant to the formulation. The result was KeraVet Gel, a keratin-based hydrogel designed to support healing while helping discourage licking and chewing. By combining advanced keratin science with lick deterrence in a single product, KeraVet Gel helps simplify aftercare, reduce complications, and make recovery easier for pets, pet parents, and veterinary teams.
KeraVet Gel keeps healing going, even when patients don’t cooperate.
Ready to change your wound care protocol?
First, It Started on the Battlefield
In 2008, a team of entrepreneurs, scientists, and U.S. military veterans, including our CEO Dr. Luke Burnett, partnered with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine to tackle one of medicine’s toughest challenges: helping heal traumatic battlefield injuries.
Their research led to a key discovery. Keratin, the same protein found in skin, hair, and nails, plays an active role in the healing process. That discovery became the foundation of KeraNetics™ (KeraVet Bio’s parent company) and led to two FDA-cleared wound care products, KeraStat® Gel and KeraStat® Cream.
Then, It Helped Cancer Patients Heal More Comfortably
The science expanded into oncology, where KeraStat Cream became a trusted tool among radiation oncologists treating radiation dermatitis. Radiation therapy can cause painful skin injury including ulceration, redness, itching, and flaking in up to 95% of patients.1 KeraStat Cream helps address this unmet need by supporting healing when traditional topical therapies often fall short.
As the technology continued to prove itself in human medicine, we saw an opportunity to bring keratin-based wound care to veterinary patients.
Now, It’s Helping Pets Heal, Too
We knew the same science could benefit animals, so we adapted the same keratin-powered technology for veterinary use. There was just one problem. Animals love the taste of keratin. To address this—and the real-world challenges of E-collars, secondary bandaging, and self-trauma during recovery, our scientists added a safe, highly effective bitterant to the formulation. The result was KeraVet Gel, a keratin-based hydrogel designed to support healing while helping discourage licking and chewing. By combining advanced keratin science with lick deterrence in a single product, KeraVet Gel helps simplify aftercare, reduce complications, and make recovery easier for pets, pet parents, and veterinary teams.
KeraVet Gel keeps healing going, even when patients don’t cooperate.
Ready to change your wound care protocol?
Our Mission
Meet the Humans Behind the Healing
Luke Burnett, PhD
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Luke has been a part of KeraNetics, the KeraVet Bio parent company, since its beginning in 2008. He then founded KeraVet Bio in March of 2022. This is his third spinoff company from KeraNetics and treating wounds–for pets and people–is his number one priority. Luke’s desire to develop state-of-the-art wound care stems from his 27 years in the military where he saw battlefield wounds that were more extensive than the technologies and treatments of civilian trauma medicine could handle. He continues to provide innovative solutions in both human and veterinary medicine.
Chiquita Williams
Chief Operating and Quality Officer
Josie Nelson
Vice President of Manufacturing
Cherice Roth, MS, DVM
Lead Medical Advisor
April Oleniczak
Vice President, Sales
Kim Farina, DVM
Marketing Consultant
Cherice Roth, MS, DVM
Lead Medical Advisor
April Oleniczak
Vice President, Sales
April brings both experience and passion for animal health to KeraVet Bio. She has over 20 years of experience in the animal health industry that includes sales, account management, training, research and developmental chemistry, and regulatory compliance. At KeraVet, April will be utilizing her C-suite relationships and go-to-market strategies to bring KeraVet Gel to more clinics, quickly and improve upon existing wound care options for veterinarians, their patients, and their clients.
Kim Farina, DVM
Marketing Consultant
Dr. Farina has 17 years of shaping strategies, building brands, and developing marketing that makes the veterinary community lean in. She’s worn all hats—corporate, nonprofit, advertising, communications, and branding and still manages to squeeze in practicing clinical medicine. Known as both an innovative strategist and an “in the trenches” creative, in her consulting role, Dr. Farina helps KeraVet Bio bring focus and distinction to the brand. Her superpower? Helping veterinarians be the clinicians who pet parents brag about. With a successful track record in multi-channel marketing and field sales, Dr. Farina’s goal is simple: healthier pets, happier rechecks, and veterinarians who get the credit they deserve—backed by science and a little marketing magic.
Luke Burnett, PhD
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Chiquita Williams
Chief Operating and Quality Officer
Josie Nelson
Vice President of Manufacturing
Our Board of Directors bring decades of experience to this young company.
Luke Burnett, PhD
KeraNetics & KeraVet Bio
Greg Keith
The Keith Corporation
Graeme (Greg) Keith is the co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of The Keith Corporation (TKC). Greg’s real estate career, spanning over 40 years, comprises more than 450 development projects exceeding $4.5 billion in value. These development projects totaling over 50 million square feet include office, industrial, retail, medical, institutional, and educational projects across 37 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Greg has served as a board member, director, and chairman for numerous organizations and Christian ministries throughout the country. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree from Wake Forest University.
Our Advisory Board is made up of talented, inspiring industry leaders.
Cherice Roth, MS, DVM
Lead Medical Advisor
The innovative composition of KeraVet Gel reflects advancements in veterinary medicine that I look for when choosing products to support. KeraVet Gel’s ability to not only support a better wound outcome, but to do that without any restraint devices such as the Elizabethan collar, will vastly improve the human-animal bond during the healing process. I believe that using KeraVet Gel will help to alleviate the stress that comes with wound management and help to accelerate the healing process, which is why I already use it on my own pets and in my own practice.
Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V
At my stage of career, I am not only a practicing veterinarian, but also previous practice owner, educator, and consultant. It’s hard to find projects that fill all of my buckets but being on the KeraVet Advisory Board does just that.
KeraVet Gel is an innovative wound management product that improves healing times and eliminates the need for bandaging and secondary restraint devices like Elizabethan collars. This addresses the physical and emotional health of my patients, as well as creates more compliant, relaxed, and happier clients. This translates into improved work culture at veterinary hospitals and veterinary professionals who can focus on what drives them – patient care.
Practices who implement this strategy are forward thinking and believe in improving all aspects of the veterinary-client-patient relationship.
Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD
As a board-certified veterinary dermatologist, I know how frequently traumatic skin lesions can occur and the effect they have on the pet-owner relationship.
Now, we have the ability to address these lesions with a state-of-the-art topical treatment derived from an effective therapy used in human medicine. Also, to minimize the use of physical restraint or E-collars by implementing a potent lick deterrent within the formula really addresses the frustration an owner can experience in this situation.
I have been so impressed with the innovation and thoughtfulness KeraVet Bio has taken to bring this product to the veterinary market. Not only relying on science but investing in studies and consulting with veterinary specialists to maximize all aspects of the product.
Richard Hawkins, DVM
I have been involved in organized veterinary medicine for over 30 years serving on the North Carolina State Veterinary Medical Association and Medical Boards. Now the opportunity for me to be on the forefront of a new generation of medicines to improve the health of animals is very exciting.
Keravet Bio has developed a new dermatologic drug for wound management in dogs and cats. Keravet gel is a topical application that promotes faster healing of partial skin thickness wounds. It has a profound lick deterrent that keeps the patient from wanting to lick the wound and eliminates the need for E-collars.
This will improve the quality of life for the patient while the wound heals. This is an exciting time to be involved in the innovation and discovery of ways to improve the health of our animal population.
Ira Gordon, DVM, DACVR-RO
It is inspiring to be working alongside such thoughtful veterinary leaders on the KeraVet Advisory Board. We work alongside the company’s executive team to consider the science, medicine, and practical clinical aspects of getting this product into the clinic and to the patients that need it most.
We provide our insights about a novel product that has the potential to meaningfully improve animal health. Some of my toughest cases as a clinician have been related to wound care. In those cases, I wished there was something that could speed healing time and reduce the need for an e-collar.
Scott Maloney, MBA
Throughout the years, I’ve seen many products introduced in the animal health space, but nothing that has had the possibility of changing a standard of care like KeraVet Gel.
The power of this product is clear as it has attracted some of the most sought-after veterinary leaders in our industry to support the company. I believe this is because KeraVet Gel offers the most elegant and effective way to manage wounds by reducing the need for bandages and cones while providing a moist wound bed to promote a better healing outcome.
Not only is KeraVet Bio changing the standard of care, but they are doing it with a robust product that in prior formulations is FDA cleared for human use. They’re eliminating the need for the cone, while better managing the wound and offering pet owners an easy, fear free solution for their pets. KeraVet Gel is the solution to wound care the animal health industry has been looking for and is a win for those treating the pets, caring for the pets and the pet itself.