His Excellency toured the Institute to get a first-hand view of the groundbreaking work being done in regenerative engineering, particularly with nanofiber technology – combining material science, nanotechnology, polymeric materials, and stem cell science to develop new regenerative solutions.

In addition to visiting the Institute, His Excellency met with Sir Cato T. Laurencin and Venton Forbes, Vice President of Community Integration and Impact at InterCommunity Health Care. InterCommunity Health Care is a federally qualified health center that provides primary care, behavioral health care, and recovery addiction services in the Greater Hartford area.

Laurencin has strong ties to Saint Lucia. He was born in the U.S. but is also a citizen of St. Lucia. In March 2025, he was bestowed Knighthood under the auspices of King Charles III of England by the Governor General of St. Lucia for his exceptional and outstanding service of national importance to Saint Lucia. Previously, Sir Cato Laurencin received the St. Lucia Medal of Honor (Gold).

Laurencin established the UConn JUMP Saint Lucia Program, which supports Saint Lucian communities in developing and maintaining a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle. Copies of  Laurencin’s biographical book, Success Is What You Leave Behind: Fostering Leadership and Innovation, have been distributed in schools throughout St. Lucia. In addition. Laurencin will be leading the Second World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in St. Lucia on January 27-31, 2026.

At UConn Laurencin is the University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the UConn School of Medicine. He is professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering and professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university Institute created and named in his honor.

He is the founder and pioneer of the field of Regenerative Engineering. He is an expert in biomaterials science, stem cell technology, and nanotechnology and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Foundation created The Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder’s Award in his honor.

Laurencin is an elected member of 17 national academies in the U.S. and worldwide, including the Royal Academy of Engineering in England. He is the first surgeon in the world to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.