Ceremony for the Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award: Honoring Cato T. Laurencin, a Pioneer in Regenerative Engineering

As part of the 10th Anniversary Series of Bioactive Materials, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in Bioactive Materials Ceremony was held at the Yungu Campus of Westlake University. This award recognizes global scholars who have made exceptional scientific contributions and technological leadership in the field of bioactive materials. After rigorous evaluation by an international jury, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, Member of NAS, NAE, NAM, NAI, AAAS, Academician of Chinese National Academy of Engineering and Professor at the University of Connecticut Health Center, was awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for his groundbreaking research and clinical translation in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. He received a $10,000 grant and a certificate of honor. 

A Global Academic Gathering to Celebrate Excellence 

The ceremony was chaired by Prof. Zheng Yufeng of Peking University, Editor-in-Chief of Bioactive Materials. Over 200 experts and scholars from the global biomaterials and medical engineering fields convened to witness this milestone event. In his address, Mr. Peng Bin, Chairman of KeAi, emphasized that since its establishment in 2021, the award has become one of the most influential honors in bioactive materials, aiming to recognize scholars who demonstrate outstanding leadership in basic research and translational applications, and to inspire cross-disciplinary innovation and deep industry-academia collaboration. 

Profile of the Laureate: A Visionary Shaping Regenerative Medicine 

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., is a University Professor and the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut (UConn), also serving as Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. He is the CEO of the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university institute at the University of Connecticut. 

He earned his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Harvard Medical School, and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from MIT. 

Dr. Laurencin is widely regarded as a pioneer in regenerative engineering. Upon receiving the Spingarn Medal, he was named the world’s foremost engineer-physician-scientist. He pioneered the use of polymeric biomaterials for treating musculoskeletal disorders, with his work spanning fundamental research on polymeric materials to clinical trials and therapeutic applications. His versatile innovations in biomaterials have led to a range of products improving human health. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers established the Cato T. Laurencin Regenerative Engineering Founder's Award in recognition of his transformative contributions.

A historic figure in academia, Dr. Laurencin is the first surgeon elected to the National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Inventors (USA). He is also the first to receive both the Walsh McDermott Medal (one of the highest honors of the National Academy of Medicine) and the Simon Ramo Founder's Award (the highest honor of the National Academy of Engineering). The American Association for the Advancement of Science awarded him the Philip Hauge Abelson Prize for "signal contributions to the advancement of science in the United States." 

Named Inventor of the Year by the Intellectual Property Owners Educational Foundation, he also holds the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest U.S. honor for technological achievement, presented by President Barack Obama at the White House. 

Tributes from Global Leaders: A Legacy of Impact 

Three eminent scholars delivered remarks celebrating Dr. Laurencin’s legacy: 

- Prof. Robert Langer (MIT, USA): "Cato is a distinguished scientist who has made groundbreaking discoveries in regenerative engineering, trained generations of students, demonstrated leadership across universities and globally, and inspired countless individuals as a role model." 

- Prof. Liu Changsheng (Shanghai University, Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2021): "As a pioneer in regenerative engineering, Prof. Laurencin has driven the integration of engineering and biology, enabled clinical translation of technologies, and pioneered polymeric biomaterials for musculoskeletal repair. His contributions are profound, and this award is well-deserved." 

- Prof. Guillermo Ameer (Northwestern University, 2022 Award Recipient of Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award): "We look to Cato to continue leading the field of regenerative engineering as a role model, bridging gaps and advocating for equity for those with limited resources."

A Catalyst for Global Progress 

The Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award, goes beyond individual honor, serving as a catalyst for advancing the field, fostering international collaboration, and inspiring innovation. Previous recipients include global leaders such as Changsheng Liu (2021), Guillermo Ameer (2022), Xuesi Chen(2023), and Xingdong Zhang (2024), all of whom have shaped the trajectory of biomaterials science. 

Against the backdrop of global aging and growing needs for tissue repair, bioactive materials have emerged as a core driver of medical revolution. This ceremony not only celebrated Dr. Laurencin’s individual legacy but also marked the field’s strategic shift from "material substitution" to "tissue-inductive regeneration." 

The event concluded with vibrant academic exchanges, as attendees envisioned the promising future of bioactive materials in disease treatment, organ regeneration, and beyond, anticipating the next generation of trailblazers to be recognized by this esteemed award.