The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

Thought LeadersSir Prof. Cato T. LaurencinCEOThe Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering

In this interview, Sir Professor Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L, the 2025 Coulter Lecturer, discusses how he is addressing today’s medical challenges using future technology.

Can you tell us about how you started your career in science? 

My career in science began when I attended Princeton University for college. I had enrolled as a chemical engineering student, though I initially knew little about the field. A mentor, Dr. Ernest Johnson, took me under his wing at an early stage and guided me. While I pursued chemical engineering, I always intended to become a physician. 

While at Princeton, I applied to medical school and began my medical education at Harvard Medical School. However, I soon realized I missed my engineering work, leading me to MIT. There, I met Dr. Robert Langer, a young and brilliant assistant professor. I was deeply inspired by his work and decided to follow in his footsteps. I began working in engineering with Dr. Langer while continuing my medical studies. 

At that point, I navigated between Harvard Medical School and my PhD program at MIT, ultimately completing both around the same time, bridging the two fields.

When I completed my time at Harvard and MIT, I was offered an opportunity to join the faculty at MIT.

I was given a unique opportunity to join the MIT faculty and open my laboratory while simultaneously staying at Harvard for my orthopedic surgery training. I became an orthopedic surgery resident trainee and eventually served as chief resident in orthopedic surgery at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, all while running my laboratory at MIT.

What led you to develop the concept of regenerative engineering beyond tissue engineering? 

Tissue engineering, as a field, began around 38 years ago. YC Fung is credited with first using the term, while Bob Langer is recognized for significantly expanding the field.

As a clinician, engineer, and scientist, I observed progress being made, but the major breakthroughs in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine had yet to materialize or were happening too slowly. 

In analyzing this, I believed we needed to expand our toolkit into areas that might not have seemed directly related but had the potential to contribute. This included developmental biology—studying how organisms like newts or salamanders regenerate limbs—advanced materials, and nanotechnology, which was just beginning to be recognized for its role in regeneration. We also explored new directions in stem cell science, including creating a new class of stem cells. 

Combining all these areas required a convergence approach, integrating insights from different disciplines to generate new knowledge and innovative solutions. Ultimately, my focus as a physician and surgeon has always been on patient impact. At the Cato T. Laurencin Institute at UConn, everything we do is aimed at developing solutions that will directly improve patients’ lives.

How does the convergence model differ from traditional collaboration in scientific research? 

The traditional, or what I call "old school," approach to collaboration involves individuals from different fields working together while maintaining distinct areas of expertise. We collaborate by bridging our knowledge but not necessarily integrating it deeply. 

In the convergence model, however, scientists actively learn from one another to the point that their expertise overlaps. Your understanding of my field advances to my own level, and I do the same with yours. This mutual growth allows us to integrate knowledge in a way that leads to entirely new discoveries and innovations. 

At my institute, all my graduate students and fellows work across multiple disciplines, becoming experts in several areas and then combining these fields to drive the emerging discipline of regenerative engineering.

What have been some of the major discoveries in the field of regenerative engineering? 

Over time, we have made several significant discoveries, and much of the progress in this field has come from maintaining an open mind.

One key example is our work with nanofiber technology. I was introduced to this area when I visited Dr. Frank Ko at Drexel University, who was working at a textile center.

As we explored the field further, I noticed that the architecture of nanofibers resembled collagen, leading me to hypothesize that they could be used for tissue engineering. This led to our publication of the first paper on using polymeric nanofibers for tissue regeneration.

That paper has since been highly cited, with thousands of citations demonstrating its impact on the field.

Nanofiber technology is a prime example of convergence—combining material science, nanotechnology, polymeric materials, and stem cell science to develop new regenerative solutions. Today, thousands of papers focus on polymeric nanofibers, particularly in tissue regeneration. 

Another key discovery involves the concept of inductive materials. I was among the first to explore the idea that a material placed in the body could regenerate tissue independently without any additional biological components.

This principle, known as material inductivity, leverages the body's natural ability to heal and regenerate. Initially, many were skeptical, but 20 years later, it has become widely accepted. Our work demonstrated how material inductivity functions both in vitro and in vivo, helping to establish it as a critical tool in regenerative engineering. 

One fascinating finding is that the power of material inductivity appears to increase as we move from smaller to larger animals.

For example, a material implanted for bone regeneration may not be effective in a mouse but could regenerate tissue in a rabbit. As we scale up, the material’s ability to induce regeneration strengthens, revealing new clinical application possibilities.

Is there a relationship between growth hormones and material inductivity in regenerative engineering? 

Some of our work suggests the opposite of what might be expected. Rather than growth hormones being more effective in smaller animals, we have found that the material exhibits more powerful inductivity as we move up the biological scale. However, higher amounts are required for some biological factors to achieve regeneration. 

For example, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), which is currently on the market, is naturally present in the body only at picogram levels for regeneration. In contrast, commercial products contain microgram levels—millions of times higher than what is naturally present.

This demonstrates a reverse effect: materials gain inductivity as we move up the biological scale, becoming increasingly powerful in larger organisms compared to biological molecules.

Can you tell us about the Laurencin-Cooper ACL Ligament and its significance? 

My work as an orthopedic surgeon and chemical engineer focuses on musculoskeletal problems. I am also a sports medicine doctor, so one of the key areas we wanted to address was the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a crucial stabilizer of the knee. An athlete is sidelined for a year due to a knee injury often because of a torn ACL. 

I started working on this project with my graduate student, James Cooper, who later became a professor and has done outstanding work in this area. Together, we developed a new engineered ligament for ACL regeneration. This was likely the first time a polymer-based ligament system was used to fully regenerate knee tissue. 

I remember receiving a text from my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Brooks. He told me he saw our work listed in National Geographic’s 100 Discoveries That Have Changed the World, where we were ranked number 30.

Our team at the University of Virginia successfully created the Laurencin-Cooper Ligament, which completely regenerated the ACL. This landmark moment demonstrated the power of materials science—showing that we could develop a material system capable of full tissue regeneration. This breakthrough has since inspired a range of technologies and products, some of which are now on the market, leveraging material science to potentiate cell phenotypes for regeneration.

Can you tell us about the HEAL Project and its goal of regenerating human limbs? 

The HEAL Project aims to be completed by 2030. We launched it in 2015 and were fortunate to receive a significant NIH Pioneer Award for limb regeneration. The Pioneer Award supports high-risk, high-reward research. The selection process is rigorous, with thousands applying and only a handful selected after intense evaluation. 

I set the goal for 2030 based on past breakthroughs. When we worked on engineering bone, people doubted us, saying we had only just learned how to grow bone cells, yet we successfully engineered bone in about 12 years. Similarly, we engineered the rotator cuff from scratch in about 10 years. Since engineering a whole limb is more complex, we estimated 15 years as a realistic target. 

This project is like a moonshot. In the early '60s, when President Kennedy announced the goal of landing on the moon, many fundamental questions remained unanswered, yet the challenge inspired innovation that ultimately made it possible. When I was inducted into the Chinese Academy of Engineering, an article in *China News Daily* referred to this as "Dr. Laurencin’s regenerative moonshot," which I think is fitting. But as I often remind people—the last time I checked, we did go to the moon. This project offers tremendous hope for the future of regenerative medicine.

What progress has been made so far in the HEAL Project? 

We have been working in multiple areas, focusing on joint regeneration. You cannot regenerate a limb without regenerating a joint, so we have spent significant time studying novel approaches to joint tissue regeneration. One promising area involves amnion, a placental product that we have found plays a key role in regeneration, and we have developed systems utilizing it. 

Another breakthrough is developing a new class of stem cells called synthetic artificial stem cells (SASC). Unlike pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, SASCs are designed to harness the most valuable aspect of stem cells: their secretome, the collection of bioactive factors they release.

We have essentially packaged this regenerative power into a cell-like structure that can be injected into the body. In our animal models, injecting SASCs into joints has successfully stimulated joint regeneration. 

We are also exploring the role of mechanical forces in regeneration. Our latest research—soon to be published—shows that altering the mechanics around a joint can influence its regenerative capacity. This is an exciting finding because it adds another tool to the regenerative engineering toolbox, combining biomechanics, stem cell science, and materials science to push the boundaries of what is possible in limb regeneration.

How important is mentorship for the next generation of scientists, especially in regenerative engineering?

Mentorship is incredibly important in regenerative engineering. One of the things I always tell students is to actively seek out mentors. Mentorship does not have to come from just one person; it can come from a group of people.  

Looking back on my life, there were key moments when I met the right people and latched onto them. In retrospect, I think one of the most positive things I did was recognizing the power of mentorship. If someone extends a helping hand, take it—do not overthink it, just move forward. I have been fortunate to do that throughout my life, and I always stress its importance to students.

This year, you are delivering the Pittcon keynote lecture. How does it feel to receive this honor, and what does it mean to you? 

I am truly honored on multiple levels. First, it is the Coulter-endowed lectureship, and I have always respected the Coulter Foundation. They were among the first to recognize that while great science and engineering are important, they are not enough—discoveries need to be translated into real-world impact. 

The Coulter Foundation started funding grants in biomedical engineering that encouraged researchers to patent their work, start companies, and bring their innovations to market. Some universities were not quite ready for this at the time, but they adapted as the funding came in.

Fast-forward to today and most universities recognize that patents, startups, and product development count as valuable academic contributions. The Coulter Foundation and its leadership played a key role in making that shift happen. 

I am also honored to be here at Pittcon, one of the largest gatherings of scientists in the world, with around 25,000 attendees. Being invited as the keynote speaker is a privilege, and I look forward to staying engaged with Pittcon in the future. I am very impressed with the work that is being done here.

You have an incredibly busy schedule. What does the future look like for you? 

First and foremost, the Hartford Engineering A Limb project is significant to me. One of my life’s most significant missions is to develop next-generation technology to help people. I am susceptible to the needs of wounded warriors who have lost limbs.

As conflicts evolve, we have seen that while many people tragically lose their lives in war, an increasing number survive but are left with severe disabilities due to IEDs and other explosive devices. We need to create advanced solutions for these individuals. Worldwide, conditions such as diabetic ulcers often lead to amputation, so we are also focused on developing solutions in that area. 

Beyond that, while our work has a clear destination, the journey itself is just as important. For example, our research on tissue regeneration in the knee joint may lead to new treatments for osteoarthritis. We are hopeful that these advancements will significantly impact patient care.

To further translate our discoveries into real-world applications, we have launched Healing Orthopedic Technologies Bone, a company dedicated to developing and commercializing our innovations. We continuously seek new investors to help bring these important technologies to a broader market. Moving forward, our primary focus is to continue advancing this work.

About Sir Professor Cato T. Laurencin

Sir Professor Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L. is the University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor at the University of Connecticut, where he also leads The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering. A practicing orthopedic surgeon and pioneering scientist, he holds professorships in chemical, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

Sir Prof. Laurencin earned his B.S.E. from Princeton, M.D. from Harvard, and Ph.D. from MIT. He is internationally recognized for founding the field of Regenerative Engineering and has received top honors from the NIH, NSF, and scientific societies across engineering and medicine. A trailblazer in mentoring and health equity, he co-founded the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute and serves as Editor-in-Chief of journals in both regenerative medicine and health disparities.

Sir Prof. Laurencin is the first surgeon elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama for his transformative contributions to science, engineering, and medicine.

About Pittcon

Pittcon is the world’s largest annual premier conference and exposition on laboratory science. Pittcon attracts more than 16,000 attendees from industry, academia and government from over 90 countries worldwide.

Their mission is to sponsor and sustain educational and charitable activities for the advancement and benefit of scientific endeavor.

Pittcon’s target audience is not just “analytical chemists,” but all laboratory scientists — anyone who identifies, quantifies, analyzes or tests the chemical or biological properties of compounds or molecules, or who manages these laboratory scientists.

Having grown beyond its roots in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, Pittcon has evolved into an event that now also serves a diverse constituency encompassing life sciences, pharmaceutical discovery and QA, food safety, environmental, bioterrorism and cannabis/psychedelics. 

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