Dr. Bob Hariri, the founder, chair and CEO of Celularity Inc., will hold a webinar Tuesday to discuss research into using cells to fight COVID-19, and where he feels we are as a country in the search for a vaccine.
Celularity, one of the world’s leading human cellular therapeutics companies, is based in Warren. Hariri is an accomplished surgeon, biomedical scientist and serial entrepreneur in two technology sectors, biomedicine and aerospace.
Hariri was the founder and CEO of Anthrogenesis Corp., and, after its acquisition by Celgene Corp., served as CEO of Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. He also cofounded the genomic-based health intelligence company, Human Longevity Inc.
The event is being organized by Frank D’Souza and James Barrood.
“Having someone of Dr. Hariri’s background and intellect discuss the ongoing battle against COVID-19 will bring unique insights,” Barrood said.
Hariri pioneered the use of stem cells to treat a range of life-threatening human diseases and continues today to make transformative contributions in the fields of immuno-oncology and cell therapeutics, along with tissue engineering and functional regeneration. He is widely acknowledged for his discovery of pluripotent stem cells derived from the human placenta — and as a member of the team that discovered the physiological activities of tumor necrosis factor.
Hariri and his team of scientists were the first to obtain FDA approval to use its cryopreserved allogeneic, off-the-shelf Natural Killer cell therapy to treat COVID-19 infected adults. He holds over 170 issued and pending patents for discoveries, including placenta-derived stem cells, which Nature recognized as one of the 10 most important patent estates in the field. He has authored over 150 published chapters, articles and abstracts.
Hariri was the recipient of the Pontifical Medal for Innovation awarded by Pope Francis in 2018 for his discovery of placental stem cells and advances in immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. Hariri twice received the Thomas Alva Edison Award for invention, in 2007 and 2011, and is a recipient of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation’s Fred J. Epstein Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is a trustee and vice chair of the Liberty Science Center.
