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

Last month, I had the pleasure of presenting the nominees for the 2016 Prix Galien Best Medical Technology Award in the Prix Galien USA Gala Awards Ceremony at New York City’s Museum of Natural History. The Prix Galien was created in 1970 in France by a pharmacist named Roland Mehl. It honors Galien, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. Prizes are awarded for products and agents that improve the human condition. The Prix Galien USA awards prizes for therapeutics, including Best Pharmaceutical Agent, Best Biotechnology Product, and Best Medical Technology approved by the FDA in the past five years. The Prix Galien is considered to be the industry’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize and is the highest accolade for pharmaceutical research and development.

It was a great honor for me to serve on the Galien Foundation Committee. The presentation is online.

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.

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

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.

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

On May 19th, 2016 I was extremely honored to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barrack Obama at the White House. This marks the third time I have received White House honors. I was the recipient of the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from President Bill Clinton for work bridging engineering and medicine, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama.

In a press release issued by the White House, President Obama stated, “Science and technology are fundamental to solving some of our nation’s biggest challenges. The knowledge produced by these Americans today will carry our country’s legacy of innovation forward and continue to help countless others around the world. Their work is a testament to American ingenuity.”

The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is America’s highest honor for technological achievement. I give thanks to my family, teachers, mentors, colleagues, and students for inspiring me each and every day. What has been accomplished on this journey is in large part due to them.

Since the announcement of my receiving the National Medal of Technology we have embarked on a number of new and exciting initiatives. These include the Hartford Engineering a Limb Project (HEAL), and the launch of our new Journal, Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine.

To watch the ceremony, visit The White House Official YouTube channel.

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

On March 17th, I was honored at a gala event at the Consulate-General of the Peoples’s Republic of China in New York City. The award was bestowed on me by Zhang Qiyue, Consul General of China in New York, to note my work fostering U.S.-China relations in the scientific community. Last year, I was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. I am the first foreign member from the United States to be elected in the field of biomaterials and one of the youngest foreign members to be elected in its history. I look forward to working with scientific community in China. Thanks to everyone at the Chinese Consulate for organizing the gala dinner.

It was truly an honor to have been recognized by the NAACP, an organization that has been at the forefront of the fight for equality in our country. The Connecticut chapter of the NAACP has been honoring the state’s most influential blacks since 2009. The ceremony was held in Stamford during the 50th NAACP State. The event’s keynote speaker was U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings. I am honored to be named on a list alongside so many distinguished and accomplished men and women. I will continue working to make a difference in the lives of African Americans in the areas of education, health disparities, and other issues.

Congratulations to Dr. Nair of the Institute for Regenerative Engineering. In collaboration with Dr. Regina Landesberg of the Department of Craniofacial Sciences at UConn Health, she has received one of seven Research and Education Funding awards from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation. The Foundation supports novel research on maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Nair and Dr. Landesberg’s project focuses on the development of injectable platelet rich plasma delivery systems for craniofacial tissue regeneration. Congratulations to both of them on funding for this exciting project.