Regenerative Engineering Society

September 9, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

I am delighted to officially announce the launch of Regenerative Engineering Society. The mission of the Regenerative Engineering Society is to promote and advance regenerative engineering, a field defined as the Convergence of Advanced Materials Sciences, Stem Cell Sciences, Physics, Developmental Biology and Clinical Translation for the regeneration of complex tissues and organ systems. With the new society we want to bundle our expertise on a national level. This will not only allow us to enhance our capabilities in the U.S. but this will also contribute towards enhancing our visibility internationally.

The founding leadership of the Regenerative Engineering Society are: Dr. Cato Laurencin from University of Connecticut (Chair), Dr. Lakshmi Nair from UConn Health (Secretary), Dr. Yusuf Khan from University of Connecticut (Treasurer), Dr. Ali Khademhousseini from MIT (Board), Dr. Kevin Lo from UConn Health (Board), Dr. David Gardiner from University of California, Irvine (Board), and Dr. Guillermo Ameer from Northwestern University (Board).

For more information, please visit the society’s website at http://www.aiche.org/resociety

Speaking at the American Chemical Society Committee on Minority Affairs Luncheon

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

Last month, I was really honored to be the keynote speaker the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Minority Affairs Luncheon in Philadelphia. I discussed my thoughts on developing students to work in the area of STEM. My parents inspired me to study medicine and engineering so I hope by speaking at the American Chemical Society, I can encourage and insprire many young people to follow my path.

The Committee on Minority Affairs (CMA) aims to lead change in institutional culture within the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the chemical enterprise and achieve full participation and expression of intellectual and creative capacity of underrepresented minorities.

Speaking at the American Chemical Society Committee on Minority Affairs Luncheon

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Lifetime Research Award

September 2, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

I am pleased to announce Dr. James R. Gavin III is the recipient of the 2016 Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Lifetime Research Award. This research award recognizes a lifelong dedication to the true science of medicine as a master clinician, incomparable researcher and teacher with the unique skills attributed to my vision.

Dr. Gavin is Clinical Professor of Medicine at both Emory University and Indiana University School of Medicine. He was president of the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta from 2002-2004. He served as senior scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) from 1991-2002 and director of the HHMI-National Institutes of Health Research Scholars Program from 2000-2002. After graduating from Livingstone College in North Carolina in 1966 with a degree in chemistry, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Emory University in 1970 and his M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine in 1975.

Dr. Gavin represents the quintessential scientist, educator, trailblazer, and type of leader most people aspire to become. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute, I thank Dr. Gavin for his many efforts and resulting accomplishments.

The Meritorious Achievement Award

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

The Meritorious Achievement Award

On July 30, I was honored to be named the recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award during the opening awards ceremony of the National Medical Association’s 2016 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Los Angeles.

This achievement award is given for noted national and international achievement and prominence. In addition, this award recognizes individuals of national and international stature whose efforts significantly benefit health and medicine.

My sincere and humble thanks to the NMA for granting me this notable honor.

Annual Laurencin Labs Dinner

July 28, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

Laurencin Labs Annual Dinner 2016 On Friday, July 22, the Institute for Regenerative Engineering held our 29th Annual Laurencin Labs dinner at the Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford. Over 60 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members attended. Also attending were the local high-school and college students who are spending part of their summers in the lab. The evening celebrated the outstanding research conducted in our laboratory during 2016 and included a discussion of the work planned for 2017.

Thank you to those who helped make this the dinner meeting so successful.

Lakshmi Nair Edits Book on Injectable Hydrogels

I am pleased to announce IRE faculty member Lakshmi Nair recently served as editor of a new book, Injectable Hydrogels for Regenerative Engineering.

Regenerative engineering, with its ability to foster novel therapeutic techniques and strategies, has emerged as the most versatile and innovative technology of the 21st century. The past few years have seen significant research interest in the design, preparation, and application of injectable hydrogels as advanced biomaterials for cell and factor therapy. This book is timely, providing a state-of-the-art summary of the status of injectable hydrogels in regenerative engineering. The collection of ten chapters written by experts in their fields presents an excellent overview of the subject for a wide audience. In my opinion, this book will be extremely useful as a reference source for all those working in the area of biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery.

Convergence Report Release

July 21, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

It was a great pleasure to appear as a member of the study panel at the Convergence Report Release Event in Washington D.C. on June 24. The report, “Convergence: The Future of Health”, draws on insights from several dozen expert participants at two workshops, as well as containing input from scientists and researchers from academia, industry, and government. Their efforts have produced a wide range of recommendations for advancing convergence research. The report outlines three major disease areas — brain disorders, infectious diseases and immunology, and cancer — and promises convergence-based approaches to tackling them. It also presents case studies of four emerging technology categories: advanced imaging in the body, nanotechnology for drug and therapy delivery, regenerative engineering, and big data and health information technology. The report was co-chaired by Tyler Jacks, the David H. Koch Professor of Biology and director of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Susan Hockfield, neuroscientist and president emerita of MIT; and Phillip Sharp, Institute Professor at MIT and Nobel Laureate.

The panel discussion is online, please watch the video.

Induction Ceremony for the Chinese Academy of Engineering

June 14, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

On June 1, 2016, I had the honor of being inducted as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

I was among a small number of new foreign members elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and it was a great pleasure to meet new colleagues and associates there.

A Chinese Academy of Engineering academician title signifies the highest Chinese academic achievement level in Engineering and Technology and a lifelong honor. It's a true honor for me to be elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, colleagues, fellows, students, and friends who have inspired me through my career. I look forward to continue to work closely with the engineering community in China.

2016 Connecticut Medal of Technology

June 3, 2016

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

On May 24, I was very happy to receive the prestigious Connecticut Medal of Technology at the 41st Annual Meeting & Dinner of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE), at the University of New Haven. The Connecticut Medal of Technology is the State of Connecticut’s highest honor for technological achievement in fields crucial to Connecticut’s economic competitiveness.

It is wonderful to receive this recognition for the work I have been doing in Connecticut. Besides our work in science, we have started a number of successful companies here and have been able to reach back by working in STEM education in the state. I am particularly gratified that the state has recognized my work in making Bioscience Connecticut a reality. I wanted to thank those who nominated me and supported my nomination, including Provost Mun Choi here at the University of Connecticut. And, of course, thank you to my extended family, colleagues, and friends who have always supporting me and my vision over the many years.

CICATS Supports Women in Science Program

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

On May 21, as part of the Connecticut Science Center Women in Science program, CICATS' Dr. Linda Barry, Assistant Director and Chief Operating Officer of CICATS, was giving the keynote speech for the ‪#‎DaVinciCoder Girls-only Hack-A-Thon in Connecticut Science Center in downtown Hartford. During the speech, Dr. Barry talked about academic medicine still has low number in women and underrepresented minorities. She also shared her own story to becoming a surgeon. One of our missions is to collaborate in creating a learning environment where underrepresented minority individuals and women can thrive in STEM. We also encourage mentoring to support women throughout their academic and professional experiences, and supporting efforts to retain women in the STEM workforce.