What To Know
- “Taking on the new role of Chief Surgical Officer provides a unique opportunity to expand on key relationships with the surgical community and with strategic partners, such as the Department of Defense, and to further Humacyte's aggressive growth agenda.
- Niklason's many accomplishments, she was cited by Time for creating one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2010, was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering and Women in Technology Hall of Fame, and named by Fortune magazine as one of 34 Leaders Who are Changing Health Care.
November 20, 2020
Laura Niklason, MD, Ph.D. is a world leader in tissue engineering and cellular therapies, founded Humacyte in 2004.
Laura Niklason, MD has been deeply involved in all key aspects of Humacyte’s growth, including scientific innovation and development, financing, clinical trials, manufacturing and the development and management of strategic partnerships. She led the first human implant of Humacyte’s human acellular vessel (HAV) in 2013. In taking on the CEO role at Humacyte,
Laura Niklason, MD will depart her role as the Vice-Chair of Anesthesiology at Yale University. Among Dr. Niklason’s many accomplishments, she was cited by Time for creating one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2010, was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering and Women in Technology Hall of Fame, and named by Fortune magazine as one of 34 Leaders Who are Changing Health Care.
In addition, Jeffrey Lawson MD, Ph.D. has been appointed the newly established role of Chief Surgical Officer and Vice-Chairman.
“Jeff is an inspiring leader in the organization and our industry. The Company is enriched by his enthusiasm, passion, and grit, and I look forward to continuing our decades of collaboration as he takes responsibility for expanding and accelerating our clinical applications and pathways,” said Dr. Niklason. “Humacyte has been my life’s work, and I look ahead with excitement and purpose at our potential to improve the lives of many patients. I’m grateful to our Board of Directors for the trust they’ve placed in me to lead the Humacyte team toward realizing the full extent of our revolutionary regenerative therapies.”
Dr. Lawson will serve as the Company’s first Chief Surgical Officer, a new role established to drive Humacyte’s clinical adoption and medical innovation. He will be Humacyte’s primary interface with the global surgical community, including physicians and surgeons around the world. Dr. Lawson will also seek to advance the use of Humacyte’s HAV under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compassionate Use authorization of the product and to assist with Phase III pivotal trials intended to support a Biologics License Application under the FDA’s Fast Track designation with Accelerated Approval and Priority Review.
“Humacyte’s success reflects Laura’s pioneering vision. As long-time collaborators, I look forward to continuing to work in support of that vision to improve the lives of patients,” said Dr. Lawson. “Taking on the new role of Chief Surgical Officer provides a unique opportunity to expand on key relationships with the surgical community and with strategic partners, such as the Department of Defense, and to further Humacyte’s aggressive growth agenda.”