Jennifer Elisseeff

Jennifer Elisseeff is a leading figure in Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, holding the position of F. Stuart Hodgson Department Head of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with appointments as professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Materials Science and Engineering, and Orthopaedic Surgery. She serves as the Morton Goldberg Professor and is the founder and former director (2010–2023) of the Translational Tissue Engineering Center. Elisseeff received her BS in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in 1994 and her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology in 1999. She then completed a fellowship at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Pharmacology Research Associate Program, working in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. In 2001, she joined Johns Hopkins University as an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, advancing through the ranks and demonstrating a strong commitment to translating research into clinical applications.

Elisseeff's research specializes in regenerative immunology, biomaterials, aging, single cell analysis, and regenerative medicine, with pioneering work on injectable biomaterials for tissue engineering therapies. She has cofounded several biotechnology companies, including Cartilix, Inc. in 2004, which was acquired by Biomet Inc. in 2009, and Aegeria Soft Tissue and Tissue Repair in 2009, focusing on orthopedic disease treatment, soft tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Her scholarly contributions include over 200 articles, book chapters, and patent applications, along with more than 130 national and international invited lectures. Notable publications are "Transdermal Photopolymerization for Minimally Invasive Implantation" (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 1999), "Photoencapsulation of chondrocytes in poly(ethylene oxide)-based semi-interpenetrating networks" (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 2000), and "Controlled-release of IGF-I and TGF-beta1 in a photopolymerizing hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering" (Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2001). Elisseeff has earned prestigious honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2023, the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine in 2018—making her the first Johns Hopkins faculty member elected to all three—the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022, the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award in 2019, fellowship in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2008, and the Young Global Leader designation by the World Economic Forum in 2008. She serves on scientific advisory boards for Bausch and Lomb, Kythera Biopharmaceutical, and Cellular Bioengineering Inc., as well as the State of Maryland’s Technology Development Corporation.

Professional Email: jhe@jhu.edu