Dr. Laura Niklason

Humacyte

Dr. Laura Niklason, a world leader in tissue engineering and cellular therapies, founded Humacyte in 2004. Laura 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 will depart her role as the Vice-Chair of Anesthesiology at Yale University. Among Laura’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. Niklason received her PhD in Biophysics from the University of Chicago, and her MD from the University of Michigan. She completed her residency training in anesthesia and intensive care unit medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and completed post-doctoral scientific training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Year appointed: 2020