Sir Cato T. Laurencin, recipient of the 2025 Dickson Prize in Medicine — the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s highest honor — will give a lecture on “Regenerative Engineering: Breakthroughs in Medicine,” on July 11 at Alan Magee Scaife Hall.

Laurencin, the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Connecticut, is the founder of the field of regenerative engineering.

He also is a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, of materials science and engineering, and of biomedical engineering, in the UConn School of Engineering, and is CEO of the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university institute created in his honor.

The Dickson Prize in Medicine lecture is at 2:30 p.m. July 11, in person only, in the  Scaife Hall West Wing Auditorium, room 3785. A panel discussion and reception will follow.

Laurencin is the leading international figure in polymer science and engineering, as applied to musculoskeletal biology. His broad background and insight into biomaterials and materials chemistry have allowed him to move research from fundamental science to applied research, to research translation and clinical treatment.

Laurencin earned his BSE in chemical engineering from Princeton University; his MD, magna cum laude, from Harvard Medical School; and his PhD in biochemical engineering/biotechnology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed an orthopaedic surgery residency and was named chief resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A specialist in shoulder surgery and sports medicine, he completed his fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

In 2025, he received a knighthood under the auspices of King Charles III of England by the Governor General of Saint Lucia.