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About

Franca Wagner is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of surgical robotics and otology, with a particular focus on developing and clinically validating robotic systems for cochlear implantation. Her work has fundamentally advanced the field of minimally invasive ear surgery, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in delicate microsurgical procedures. Wagner's landmark 2017 paper on robotic cochlear implantation (118 citations) established the first clinical workflow for this procedure, demonstrating its safety and feasibility in human patients. Alongside her influential "Instrument Flight to the Inner Ear" (107 citations), she helped reframe surgical robotics as a practical clinical solution for procedures that exceed the limits of human dexterity and perception. Her 2019 first-in-man study on robotic middle ear access (97 citations) further cemented her reputation as a clinical trailblazer. Wagner has also made significant methodological contributions, including population-level safety assessment frameworks and quantitative analyses of temporal bone anatomy for preoperative planning. Collectively accumulating over 400 citations, her body of work represents a comprehensive, translational research program that is actively reshaping cochlear implant surgery toward greater precision, consistency, and patient safety.