In planning a wound healing research project the complexities of human physiology, variations among individuals and the systemic response of the body to an insult (trauma) have to be taken into account. Various aspects need to be considered, including proposing a hypothesis (research question), choosing an appropriate study design, obtaining ethical approval, calculating sample size, appreciating inherent and essential ethical issues, and addressing the source of funding. Thereafter, emphasis should shift to how to report research findings as a means for dispersal of knowledge. This article provides an overview of the research process.