On Friday, September 8th, MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer will speak on Controlling the release of large molecules from biomaterials: How overcoming skepticism led to new medical treatments and ways to tackle a global health challenge.

Advanced drug delivery systems are having an enormous impact on human health. We start by discussing our early research on developing the first controlled release systems for macromolecules and the isolation of angiogenesis inhibitors and how these led to numerous new therapies. This early research then led to new drug delivery technologies including nanoparticles and nanotechnology that are now being studied for use treating cancer, other illnesses, and in vaccine delivery (including the Covid-19 vaccine). Finally, by combining mammalian cells, including stem cells, with synthetic polymers, new approaches for engineering tissues are being developed that may someday help in various diseases. These can also serve as a basis for tissues on a chip which can potentially reduce animal and human testing. Examples in the areas of cartilage, skin, blood vessels, GI tract and heart tissue are discussed.

Since graduating from MIT in 1974 with a ScD in chemical engineering, Bob Langer has gone on to serve as an Institute Professor at MIT, the highest distinction awarded to an MIT faculty member; preside over the largest academic biomedical engineering lab the world; conduct research in medicine and biotechnology that has improved the lives of over 2 billion people; become the most cited engineer in history; and garner countless awards and accolades for his work. He is a co-founder of Covid-19 vaccine maker Moderna. In his words, this celebrated educator, innovator and entrepreneur has said “Because I knew something about engineering and something about medicine, I was able to put those concepts together to come up with new ideas...” His work is of real and lasting value to society.