Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., FREng is the University Professor at the University of Connecticut (one of only two at the school). He is the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Chemical Engineering, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering.
Dr. Laurencin earned a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was named a Hugh Hampton Young Fellow and his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Harvard Medical School, and received the Robinson Award for Surgery.
Dr. Laurencin is the pioneer of the field of Regenerative Engineering. He is an expert in biomaterials science, stem cell technology and nanotechnology and has worked in the Convergence of these areas of research. In receiving the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, he was named as the world’s foremost engineer-physician-scientist. In recognition of his breakthrough achievements in Regenerative Engineering worldwide, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers created the Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award.
Dr. Laurencin is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Renowned internationally, he is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences, India, the African Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences, and is he an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Dr. Laurencin is the first individual in history to receive both the oldest/highest award of the National Academy of Engineering (the Simon Ramo Founder’s Award) and one of the oldest/highest awards of the National Academy of Medicine (the Walsh McDermott Medal).
Dr. Laurencin is the recipient of the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP given for “the highest or noblest achievement by a living African American during the preceding year or years in any honorable field” for his work in regenerative engineering. He is the recipient of the Hoover Medal, America engineering’s principal honor for humanitarian work. Dr. Laurencin is the recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honor for technological achievement, awarded by President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.