On 24 June, we will welcome Professor Robert Langer, Institute Professor at MIT to deliver the 2025 Kavli Sir Hans Krebs Prize Lecture. The title of Dr Langer’s talk is ‘Advances in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering: Towards Oral Insulin and Artificial Pancreas.’
Professor Langer’s pioneering work, which has benefited millions worldwide, includes isolating the first angiogenesis inhibitors (with Dr. Judah Folkman) leading to new treatments for cancer and blindness. He also created the first nanoparticles and microparticles for delivering large molecules, including nucleic acids and helped establish the field of tissue engineering which enabled artificial skin for burn victims and organ-on-a-chip technology.
Ahead of his visit, we caught up with Professor Langer to hear about the path that took him from chemical engineering into pioneering work in drug delivery and biotechnology.
You’ve been widely recognised for your work across fields as diverse as cancer therapy, tissue engineering and nanotechnology. What first inspired your path into science?
I was always curious about how things worked. Growing up in Albany, New York, my parents gave me chemistry sets, microscopes, and Erector kits, which I used to build rockets and mix chemicals in our basement. My school performance wasn’t stellar at first — I later realised I had ADHD — but I loved chemistry. That passion led me to study chemical engineering at Cornell.
And from there, you went on to graduate studies at MIT. What drew you to research?
During my PhD, I realised I was more interested in science that could have real-world impact than in theory alone. That feeling only deepened during my outreach work at MIT, helping create educational programmes for underprivileged students. I became passionate about using engineering to help people.
Was it a straightforward move into biomedical research from chemical engineering?
Not at all. In fact, when I decided to work with Dr Judah Folkman at Boston Children’s Hospital — a surgeon studying how tumours grow blood vessels — it was highly unusual. No engineering department would hire me, and most people thought what we were trying to do couldn’t be done. But I was driven by the idea that we could develop systems to deliver large molecules, like proteins or nucleic acids, to treat disease.
How did that work unfold?
We developed bioassays to isolate blood vessel inhibitors, eventually proving they existed. That helped lay the groundwork for therapies to starve tumours of blood supply. But the real hurdle was delivery — how to transport fragile molecules in the body without them being destroyed. It took years of failed experiments, but we eventually created nanoparticles and microparticles capable of slow, targeted release.
Your work has gone on to shape entire industries. How did you approach the challenge of translating science into applications?
We started writing patents and, over time, co-founded more than 40 companies. One of those was Moderna. In the early days, people were sceptical — both of our delivery technologies and mRNA therapeutics. But now we see those platforms saving lives. The goal has always been to take ideas from the lab and use them to make a difference.
You’re also deeply committed to mentoring and teaching. How has that shaped your career?
Teaching has always been a joy. During my first year at MIT, I did a lot of tutoring in poor communities. During my second year at MIT, some people wanted to start a school for poor high school students who had dropped out of the public schools. They asked me to help, and we started the Group School. I helped create and chaired the Math and Science Departments. I've seen how education can open doors. I’ve been lucky to work with incredible students and postdocs, many of whom are now leaders in academia and industry.
What advice would you give to young scientists interested in bridging disciplines?
Be persistent. Much of my work was rejected early on. But I truly believe that if you’re trying to solve important problems and stay curious, others will eventually come around. Don’t be afraid to take the road less travelled.