Dr. Cato T. Laurencin has received the 2014 CURE Academic Entrepreneur of the Year award for his pioneering work in regenerative medicine. Laurencin’s research has focused on the application of resorbable polymer scaffold technology suitable for treatment of tendon, ligament, and other soft tissue injuries.
A distinguished professor and surgeon, Laurencin has received numerous recognitions. He received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Mentor Award.
He served as the dean of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the vice president for health affairs at UConn Health from 2008 – 2011.
Currently, as the chief executive officer of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, the director of the Institute for Regenerative Engineering, and the director of the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Physical, and Engineering Sciences at the University of Connecticut, Laurencin enthusiastically leads the charge at UConn to encourage innovation and creativity in the diverse and rapidly evolving area of tissue regeneration.
CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence) is the bioscience cluster of Connecticut, a diverse network of small and large life and health care sciences companies, universities, scientists, educators, students, entrepreneurs, mentors, business experts, service providers and investors.