2016 Connecticut Medal of Technology Cato T. Laurencin, MD ... · 2016 Connecticut Medal of...

2016ConnecticutMedalofTechnologyCatoT.Laurencin,MD,PhD Dr.CatoT.Laurencinishonoredwiththe2016ConnecticutMedalofTechnologyasaworld-renownedphysician-scientistinorthopaedicsurgery,engineering,andmaterialsscience,whohasdevelopedtechnologiesthatarerevolutionaryandinuseinimportantapplicationsinthemarketplace.Dr.LaurencinisaUniversityProfessoratUConn—onlytheeighthpersonintheschool’shistory—whichrecognizesextraordinaryacademicexcellence,andsustained,high-levelachievementsinadministrationattheschoolandisUConn’shighestfacultyachievement.HeisChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheConnecticutInstituteforClinicalandTranslationalScienceandistheFoundingDirectoroftheInstituteforRegenerativeEngineeringandtheRaymondandBeverlySacklerCenterforBiomedical,Biological,Physical,andEngineeringSciencesatUConnHealth.Additionally,heisaprofessoracrosstheuniversity,aboardcertifiedorthopaedicsurgeon,endowedProfessorofOrthopaedicSurgery,andwasthefacultyleaderinthedevelopmentoftheBioscienceConnecticutInitiative.Dr.LaurencinisthescientificfounderofSoftTissueRegeneration,aConnecticutcompanythatiscommercializingbreakthroughtechnologiesforanteriorcruciateligament(ACL)regenerationandrotatorcuffregeneration.TherotatorcuffdevicehasbeenclearedforusebytheFDA,andtheACLdeviceisinclinicaltrialsinEurope.Dr.LaurencinalsoisScientificCo-founderofNaturalPolymerDevices,aConnecticutcompanyfocusedondevelopingpolysaccharidepolymertechnologiesforboneregeneration,whichisintheprocessofseekingFDAclearanceofanovelfracturerepairdeviceforthetreatmentofcervicalspinefractures.Dr.LaurencinhasservedasapermanentmemberoftheorthopaedicdevicepanelfortheUSFoodandDrugAdministrationandwasappointedtotheNationalScienceAdvisoryBoardoftheFDA,theoverseeingbodyofthatagency.Dr.LaurencinisanelectedmembertheNationalAcademyofMedicineandtheNationalAcademyofEngineering,thefirstorthopaedicsurgeoninhistorytoachievedualelection.InConnecticut,hewasnamedthe2014CUREConnecticutAcademicEntrepreneuroftheYear.Heisa

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is University Professor at the University of Connecticut, CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Director of the Institute for Regenerative Engineering, and Endowed Chair Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health [Photo: Andrew Bramante, CASE Photographer]

recipientoftheNationalMedalofTechnology&Innovation(2015)andtheTechnologyInnovationandDevelopmentAwardfromtheSocietyforBiomaterials,wasnamedoneofthe100EngineersoftheModernErabytheAmericanInstituteofChemicalEngineers(2009),andwasinductedintotheNationalAcademyofInventors(2013).HeisaFellowoftheAmericanAcademyofOrthopaedicSurgeons,theAmericanInstituteofChemicalEngineers,theBiomedicalEngineeringSociety,theMaterialsResearchSociety,andtheAmericanChemicalSociety.Internationally,heisaFellowoftheIndianNationalAcademyofSciences,aForeignFellowoftheChineseAcademyofEngineering,anAssociateFellowoftheAfricanAcademyofSciences,andaFellowofTheWorldAcademyofSciences.Dr.LaurencinismemberoftheConnecticutAcademyofScienceandEngineering.