Dr. Robert Langer is a pioneering chemical engineer whose visionary contributions to biomaterials, plastics, and biomedical engineering have reshaped modern medicine. As the Germeshausen Professor and Institute Professor at MIT, Dr. Langer is one of the most prolific scientists in history, with over 1,600 scientific publications, and a legacy that includes thousands of students and postdoctoral trainees worldwide.
Dr. Langer’s groundbreaking research in the late 1970s established the foundation of controlled drug delivery systems using biodegradable polymers. His 1976 publication in Nature marked the first demonstration of using micro- and nanoparticles to deliver macromolecules at a sustained rate, ushering in a paradigm shift in therapeutic science. Recognizing the limitations of existing materials, Dr. Langer and his team began synthesizing new biodegradable plastics specifically engineered for biomedical use. These novel materials have become essential for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Among his many contributions, Dr. Langer helped create the field of tissue engineering by developing transplantable tissue constructs grown in vitro on biodegradable plastic scaffolds. His innovations include biomaterials used to regenerate organs, deliver vaccines and genetic therapies, and support the development of organs-on-a-chip.
Dr. Langer’s inventions have had tremendous impact in the global marketplace, with hundreds of medical products improving human health and quality of life. He holds over 1,500 patents, including foundational inventions in tissue engineering and polymer science.
He has received many top science and engineering honors, including the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, the Dreyfus Prize in Chemical Sciences, and the Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research.
Through his dedication to science, innovation, and mentorship, Dr. Robert Langer has fundamentally changed the role of plastics in healthcare and inspired a new generation of engineers and physicians.