University News

April 7, 2026 | Jon D'Arpino

Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin of UConn is Distinguished Peter B. Dervan Lecturer at the University of Texas

Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L., was featured at the prestigious Peter B. Dervan Distinguished Endowed Lectureship at The University of Texas at Austin.

UConn Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin at the Peter B. Dervan Distinguished Lecture.

UConn Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin at the Peter B. Dervan Distinguished Lecture.

Laurencin’s talk, “Regenerative Engineering: Breakthroughs Across Science, Engineering and Medicine” focused on pioneering advancements in the field of regenerative engineering, which bridges science, engineering, and medicine to regenerate tissues and organs.

Laurencin lecture image on regenerative engineering.
Image courtesy of the Cato T. Laurencin Institute.

The Peter B. Dervan Distinguished Lecture Series was established by the Welch Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private funding organizations for basic chemical research.

The prestigious award highlights the collaboration between UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences, which transcends multiple scientific disciplines.

Laurencin is internationally known as the founder of the field of Regenerative Engineering, pioneering the convergence of materials science, stem cell biology, and clinical translation for the regeneration of complex tissues and organ systems. His pioneering achievements earned him recognition as the “Father of Regenerative Engineering,” and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Foundation established the Cato T. Laurencin Founder’s Award in Regenerative Engineering in his honor.

Laurencin is the first surgeon in history elected to all four major U.S. national academies. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

At the University of Connecticut, Laurencin serves as University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine. He also holds professorships in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. Additionally, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, an Institute created and named in his honor.

His extensive recognitions include the Priestley Medal, the highest honor of the American Chemical Society. In recognition of his global contributions, Laurencin was bestowed Knight Commander of the Order of St. Lucia, conferred under the auspices of King Charles III through the Governor General of St. Lucia