Research & Discovery

November 30, 2022 | Jini Davis, Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award Launched by the AIChE

A new award has been established in honor of UConn's Dr. Cato T. Laurencin. The Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award will recognize an individual's leadership in convergence research in regenerative engineering — a field pioneered by Laurencin

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin's portrait will be on the medal of the newly established Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award.

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin's portrait is on the struck medal of the newly established Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award.

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers Foundation (AIChE) and the AIChE Regenerative Engineering Society has established a new award named in honor of the Society’s founder, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin of the University of Connecticut.

The Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s 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 Laurencin.

Dr. Laurencin at the AIChE annual meeting on November 14.
On Nov. 14 Dr. Laurencin received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Founder’s Award at the AIChE annual meeting.

The establishment of this new award coincides with Laurencin receiving the highest recognition of AIChE.  He received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Founder’s Award this year at the AIChE annual meeting on November 14.

The inaugural Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award will be presented in 2023 at the AIChE Regenerative Engineering Society’s Annual Meeting.

The award consists of a struck medal with Laurencin’s portrait 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 one of the oldest/highest awards 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 Founder’s 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