Sir Cato T. Laurencin

2025 Sigma Xi Fellow

For his pioneering leadership in the newly founded field of regenerative engineering—where he has integrated biomaterials science, stem cell technology, nanotechnology, and clinical translation to engineer tissues and limbs—and for his exceptional record of mentorship, innovation, and service advancing diversity, equity, and scientific impact across medicine and engineering.

Biography

Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L., S.L.M.H., F.R.Eng., is the University Professor at the University of Connecticut (one of only two at the school). He is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn. He is the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut, and Institute created and named in his honor. Dr. Laurencin is the first surgeon in history elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Inventors and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Laurencin earned a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He earned his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Harvard Medical School, and received the Robinson Award for Surgery. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was named a Hugh Hampton Young Fellow. 
Dr. Laurencin is the father and pioneer of the field of Regenerative Engineering. He is an expert in nanochemistry, biomaterials science, stem cell sciences, and biophysics 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 receiving the Gold Key Award from Sigma Xi, the organization stated, “Dr. Laurencin embodies excellence through his research and his leadership.”

He received the Founder’s Award (highest award) from the Society for Biomaterials, the James Bailey Award (highest award) from the Society for Biological Engineering, the BMES Robert A. Pritzker Award (highest award) from the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Pierre Galletti Award (highest award) from the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. He received the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, NIH’s highest and most prestigious research award, for his field of Regenerative Engineering and the National Science Foundation’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Grant Award. Dr. Laurencin is the Editor-in-Chief of Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine, published by Springer Nature, and is the Founder of the Regenerative Engineering Society. 

Dr. Laurencin is the recipient of the Priestley Medal, the American Chemical Society’s highest honor, and the recipient of the Von Hippel Award, the Materials Research Society’s highest honor. He is the recipient of the Founders Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the Percy Julian Medal from the National Association of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, their highest awards. The American Association for the Advancement of Science awarded Dr. Laurencin the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize given ‘for signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States.’ 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 active in mentoring and in social justice. He received the Presidential Award for Excellence is Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama, the Beckman Award for Mentoring, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award. Dr. Laurencin is the recipient of the 2020 Herbert W. Nickens Award of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) recognizing his efforts in promoting social justice, and fairness. The Society for Biomaterials (SFB) created the Cato T. Laurencin Travelling Fellow Award for underrepresented students to attend SFB meetings in his honor.
Dr. Laurencin is an innovator. At the national level, he received the Technology, Innovation and Development Award from the Society for Biomaterials, and received the Global Leadership in Biomaterials Award from the Chinese Association of Biomaterials. Dr. Laurencin was named the Inventor of the Year for 2023 by the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation. Other winners of the award previously have included the inventors of CRISPR Technology and the inventors of mRNA technology. He received the 2024 Kathryn S. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success from the American Chemical Society. He is the recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honor for technical achievement, awarded by President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.

Dr. Laurencin is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). He has served on the Peer Review Committee in Bioengineering for the National Academy of Engineering and has been an important leadership voice for that academy at large serving as a member of the Committee overseeing engineering related scientific programs at NAE (the Division Committee on Engineering and Physical Sciences, DEPSCOM). Known internationally as a leader in Convergence research, he joined a select group of 8 individuals (including two Nobel prize winners), as a member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s cross Academy Advisory Committee on Convergence, chaired by the Presidents of the three academies.

Dr. Laurencin is the recipient of the Founder’s Award from the National Academy of Engineering. He is the first engineer-physician-scientist to receive this award in the history of the Academy.
Dr. Laurencin is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has served in a multitude of roles guiding the Academy’s activities. He has been the Chair of the Engineering section of the National Academy of Medicine. He has served as a member of the selection committee for the National Academy of Medicine as well as its nominating committee. He has been an elected member of the Council of the National Academy of Medicine, the highest-ranking body. 

Dr. Laurencin’s impact as a member of the National Academy of Medicine is evinced by the fact that he is the recipient of the Walsh McDermott Medal, bestowed on a National Academy of Medicine member who has performed outstanding lasting work in technology and health in conjunction with the national academies over a long period of time.

Dr. Laurencin is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has served on one of its admissions committees. He has served on the National Academies Classified Study committee, where he reviews and approves classified studies in service to our nation. He serves on the oversight committee for the National Academy of Science U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering and Medicine Initiative.

Dr. Laurencin is a member of the National Academy of Inventors. He has served on the selection committee for the Academy and has been a member of the Board of Directors of that Academy.

Dr. Laurencin is an international figure in engineering and science. He is the first U.S. born American to be elected to the Chinese National Academy of Engineering (he is an Academician and Foreign member), the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Indian National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India. 

In Europe he is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of Academia Europaea, and a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences. He is the recipient of the Blaise Pascal Medal in Materials Sciences from the European Academy of Sciences. He is regarded as one of the leading scientists in Africa. He is a member not only of the African Academy of Sciences, but the National Academy of the country of Senegal, and the National Academy of the country of Benin. Dr. Laurencin received the UNESCO Equatorial Guinea International Prize in the Life Sciences for his work in improving the condition of humankind. He received the award at the meeting of the African Union in Nairobi, Kenya February 2020 where he addressed the assembly.

Dr. Laurencin received the Hoover Medal which is given by all the principal engineering societies. The medal is “conferred upon an engineer whose professional achievements and personal endeavors have advanced the well-being of humankind.” The medal was bestowed on Dr. Laurencin for his “self-less service to mankind.”  Dr. Laurencin has conveyed his philosophy and continued his mentoring through his autobiography published by Elsevier. The book is entitled “Success is What You Leave Behind.” It has been an Amazon best seller, reaching number 48 on the general books list. Finally, Dr. Laurencin has silently and steadfastly worked with the nation of St. Lucia, a Caribbean country that was the place of birth of his father. He is the inaugural President of the St. Lucia Academy of Science, Technology and the Arts. Dr. Laurencin was conferred Knighthood by the Governor-General of St. Lucia under the auspices of King Charles III of England. He is Sir Cato Thomas Laurencin.