The Cato T. Laurencin Institute Launched at UConn

Posted on March 15, 2023March 17, 2023 by Jini I Davis

Dr. Cato Laurencin — A celebratory reception for the new Laurencin Institute was held on February 24 at UConn School of Medicine in Farmington.

We are excited to announce a new institute. It is entitled The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering. “This initiative is only one of the countless number of Dr. Laurencin’s contributions to the development of science and engineering”, says Provost Anne D’Alleva.

Regenerative engineering is a field founded by Professor Cato T. Laurencin. It is described as the convergence of advanced materials sciences, stems cell science, physics, developmental biology, and clinical translation for the regeneration of complex tissues and organ systems. The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering represents a transdisciplinary effort at UConn with a focus on the musculoskeletal area. The Institute integrates medicine, engineering, surgery, biology, physics, chemistry, and statistics/machine learning to enable a powerful platform for addressing scientific and medical problems in the regeneration and healing of complex tissues, organs, or organ systems.

The Cato T. Laurencin Institute of Regenerative Engineering holds to the pillars developed for the first Cato T. Laurencin Institute, namely:

Excellence in Science

Anti-Racism and Justice

Sponsorship and Mentorship

International, National, and Community Action

Transformative Technologies for Humanity

Economic Value Creation

In addition to this endeavor, Dr. Laurencin has created a ground-breaking project. It is entitled, Cato T. Laurencin Innovative Convergence Ventures (CTLICV). The CTLICV invests in next-generation companies based on innovative research conducted created within the Institute and its collaborating partners across UConn and greater university and corporate communities. We seek strong co-investor syndicates to develop products across a range of categories including regenerative engineering, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health. The intent is to fast-track innovative research from bench to bed, with measurable impact on public health, quality of life, reducing societal disparity, and economic development.

CTLICV’s investments are directed at the seed and Series A stages, where it attracts capital and talent into the most difficult-to-fund phase of company development. When we invest, we expect to support each portfolio company through its entire financing lifecycle. We leverage the portfolio investment activity and internal/external relationships to further the mission vision and values of the Institute. Additionally, the fund taps into our experience in starting and growing companies, our expertise in the medical industry, and our network of scientific and business talent to build great companies.

The scientific and educational opportunities being pursued now and in the future at UConn will enable innovation and problem-solving beyond conventional academic boundaries. A core mission of UConn is precisely to foster new ways of thinking and new approaches to answers in medicine, science, engineering, and technology. We invite you to engage with us as we continue our work here at UConn.

The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering — New Institute Logo

UConn Health’s Dr. Gualberto Ruaño Appointed Chair

Posted on February 8, 2023March 15, 2023 by Jini I Davis

UConn Health’s Dr. Gualberto Ruaño Appointed Chair of CASE’s Broadening Participation, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. For three decades Dr. Gualberto Ruaño has been an innovator in biotechnology and a pioneer in personalized medicine.

Read the full article here: https://today.uconn.edu/2023/02/uconn-healths-dr-gualberto-ruano-appointed-chair-of-cases-broadening-participation-equity-and-inclusion-committee/

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Meets with St. Lucia Prime Minister

Posted on January 26, 2023December 6, 2023 by Jini I Davis

This January UConn’s Dr. Cato T. Laurencin visited St. Lucia where he bestowed the first struck medal Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award to St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre in honorary recognition of his support of regenerative engineering in the country.

The University of Connecticut Professor Cato T. Laurencin, CEO of the Connecticut Convergence Institute at UConn Health, met with the Prime Minister of St. Lucia during a January 18- 22 trip to the country.

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, CEO of the Connecticut Convergence Institute met with officials again in St. Lucia to finalize the signing of the charter for the JUMP program. This partnership with Saint Lucia has launched ‘UConn JUMP Saint Lucia’ to educate Saint Lucian communities. This will provide more control over their food system, and opportunities for families and youth to establish new eating habits. This initiative will improve the quality of life for the Saint Lucian population.

Based on the community health promotion experiences and successes in the UConn JUMP program in the United States, Dr. Laurencin advised a plan to partner with various community organizations and Sir Arthur Community College.

Laurencin also had the honor of giving the Honorable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia a Cato T. Laurencin Founders’ Award medal. The award recognizes individuals in the field that have demonstrated leadership in the science and practice of convergence research as applied to regenerative engineering and medicine. The Prime Minister received this as a gift for contributing his help to regenerative engineering.

Read the full article here: https://today.uconn.edu/2023/01/dr-cato-t-laurencin-meets-with-st-lucia-prime-minister-to-review-progress-of-uconn-st-lucia-cooperation-agreement/

Dr. Cato Laurencin Receives Shu Chien Achievement Award

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Jini I Davis

UConn Professor Dr. Cato T. Laurencin was honored last week at the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) conference. He was awarded the Shu Chien Achievement Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the BMES Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Group. The award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the cellular and molecular bioengineering field, and someone who has been a great mentor to others.

Read the full article here: https://today.uconn.edu/2023/01/dr-cato-laurencin-receives-shu-chien-achievement-award/

Erick Orozco Morato awarded at the 2022 International Conference of BIO-Remedi

Posted on December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 by Jini I Davis

At the 2022 International Conference on Biomaterials, Regenerative Medicine and Devices (BIO-Remedi), Erick Orozco Morato was awarded with a certificate for Best Oral Presentation for his abstract titled: Intra-articular Delivery of Curcumin and Ropivacaine for Managing Osteoarthritic Pain. The meeting was held in December 2022 at IIT Guwahati, India.

Cato T. Laurencin Co-Leads Historic Report

Posted on December 8, 2022December 8, 2022 by Jini I Davis

The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), an initiative of the National Science Foundation, recently published a report identifying research priorities found at the intersection of biology and engineering. The report entitled “8 Impossible Things” boldly presents challenges to humankind that may be solved through engineering combined with biology.

Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., University Professor, Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, and Chemical Engineering at UConn, co-lead the project with Jake Beal, engineering fellow, Raytheon BBN Technologies.

Cato ERVA — Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is the founder of the field of Regenerative Engineering and the 2022 recipient of the NAACP Spingarn Medal.

Dr. Laurencin’s background bridges engineering and biology. He received his B.S.E. in chemical engineering from Princeton University, his M.D., Magna Cum Laude from the Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from M.I.T. He received the Pierre Galletti Award, the highest honor of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award, the premier recognition of the Biomedical Engineering Society.

He is the first surgeon to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors. He has received the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from President Bill Clinton, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama for his work bridging engineering and biology in ceremonies at the White House.

The full report and executive summary can be found here: https://www.ervacommunity.org/visioning-report/leveraging-biology-visioning-report/

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin receives the Founders’ Award

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Jini I Davis

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers Foundation (AIChE) and the AIChE Regenerative Engineering Society has established an award in honor of the society’s founder. The Cato T. Laurencin, Regenerative Engineering Founders’ Award, will recognize the accomplishments of individuals who have demonstrated leadership in the science and practice of convergence research as applied to regenerative engineering — a field pioneered by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, the RE Society’s Founder. He received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Founder’s Award this year at the AICHE annual meeting on November 14. The inaugural award will be presented in 2023 at the Regenerative Engineering Society’s Annual Meeting.

The award consists of a struck medal and an honorarium.

Laurencin, who is internationally renowned for his work in biomaterials, stem cell science, nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, as well the new field of regenerative engineering, serves as the chief executive officer of the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering Laurencin is the first surgeon in history to be elected to all four national academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. He is the first person in history to receive the oldest/highest award of the National Academy of Medicine (the Walsh McDermott Medal) and the oldest/highest award of the National Academy of Engineering (the Simon Ramo Founder’s Award). In science, he received the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize given “for signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States.

The field of regenerative engineering involves the convergence of advanced materials sciences, stem cell science, physics, developmental biology, and clinical translation to regenerate complex tissues and organ systems. The Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Society Founders’ Award will be presented to distinguished researchers, innovators, mentors, and teachers who have furthered the goals of this field. Nominations for the inaugural prize are due on April 15, 2023.

10-year Anniversary of Regenerative Engineering Celebration

Posted on November 23, 2022December 26, 2023 by Jini I Davis

On November 14, 2022, Dr. Cato Laurencin, the CEO of The Connecticut Convergence Institute and the Regenerative Engineering Society (RES), celebrated ten years of Regenerative Engineering.

Regenerative engineering combines advanced materials sciences, stem cell science, physics, developmental biology, and clinical translation to regenerate complex tissues and organ systems. Embedded in this new field include the following five areas: Advanced Materials Sciences, Stem Cell Sciences, Physics, Developmental Biology, and Clinical Translation.

When parts of organs are destroyed, it is difficult to completely repair or regenerate. Wounds undergo fibrosis because of intense inflammatory reactions, eventually settling down, hardening or scarring. This research field is interested in the study of the mechanisms underlying fibrosis in various organs and the research and development of fibrosis control technologies for therapeutic purposes. This type of breakthrough will tremendously impact public health and the lives of those with amputations due to bone cancer, diabetes, dangerous infections, trauma accidents, or even children born with missing or impaired limbs.

Dr. Cato Laurencin and the Connecticut Convergence Institute team have conducted many journals, studies, and articles. You can find the latest publications and journals on the website: health.uconn.edu/regenerative-engineering-institute.

UConn JUMP St. Lucia Partnership and Dr. Cato Laurencin Honored

Posted on November 23, 2022November 23, 2022 by Jini I Davis

The Connecticut Convergence Institute had a historical meeting last Thursday and Friday. The purpose of the meeting was to establish and discuss the Just Us Moving Program (JUMP) in St. Lucia. Dr. Cato T. Laurencin met with His Excellency Julian Dubois the Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, Honorary Philip J. Pierre the Prime Minister, and Prisca Regis-Andrew the Dean, Department the Health, Wellness and Human Performance: Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. He also had the honor of having his UNESCO Africa Prize Award at the entrance which is now prominently displayed at the college entrance.

The JUMP meeting was successful because many health issues were discussed. In the last three decades, the dietary habits in Saint Lucia have been westernized and shifted from fruits and vegetables to a high-calorie-dense diet processed with refined sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. These ultra-processed foods lead to low nutritional quality and severe adverse health consequences. This has caused a rise in non-communicable diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The Convergence Institutes’ JUMP team came up with innovative strategies and a more significant commitment to eliminate disparities within the communities and food system in Saint Lucia.

Thus, the pandemic has brought even more urgency to transitioning from processed, high-quantity, low-quality foods to wholesome nutrition based on fresh produce and whole foods. This partnership with Saint Lucia has launched ‘UConn JUMP Saint Lucia’ to educate Saint Lucian communities. This will provide more control over their food system, opportunities for families and youth to establish new eating habits, and, ultimately, a more just and fair food system. This initiative will improve the quality of life for the Saint Lucian population.

Based on the community health promotion experiences and successes in the UConn JUMP program in the United States, they advised a plan to partner with various community organizations. This includes non-profits and churches to reach the disfranchised communities in need, including youth, adults and seniors, and families.

Stephanie Chinwo, YIIP Scholar, received the 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Young Investigator Award

Posted on October 27, 2022October 27, 2022 by Jini I Davis

Stephanie Chinwo received the 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Young Investigator Award for her abstract presentation Molecular Analysis of AMBRA1 as a Candidate Tumor Suppressor in Sporadic Parathyroid Adenomas. She accepted a commemorative plaque and honorarium during an ASMBR President’s Reception at the Annual Meeting held in September 2022 at Austin TX. ASBMR is a professional, scientific and medical society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists who are involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism.