Copyright thenationalherald
BOSTON – Distinguished Greek-American scientist and longtime Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Ioannis V. Yannas, the pioneering inventor of artificial skin, passed away on October 19 at the age of 90. His passing was announced to the MIT community by President Sally Kornbluth, who described Professor Yannas as “a quiet, humble person of towering scientific achievement.” “Known to his friends as ‘Yanni,’ Professor Yannas was born in Athens, Greece, and earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Harvard,” President Kornbluth wrote. “Following a master’s degree from MIT in chemical engineering, a stint in industry, and a Ph.D. from Princeton in physical chemistry, he joined the MIT faculty in 1966. Until last spring, he was actively teaching; only a handful of faculty members have ever topped his 59 years of service to MIT.” Professor Yannas was best known as the inventor of artificial skin, a groundbreaking treatment for burn victims that revolutionized regenerative medicine. The products he and his colleagues developed decades ago remain the global standard of care today. During his long career, he held appointments in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Biological Engineering, and the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program, reflecting his lifelong mission to alleviate human suffering through science. “A patient and encouraging teacher and mentor, he taught thousands of students and supervised more than 100 theses,” President Kornbluth added. “Among his many honors, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He consulted widely across the biomedical industry, founded three companies, held more than two dozen patents, and wrote a defining textbook on organ regeneration.” In reflecting on his work, President Kornbluth also noted that Professor Yannas often pointed to a lesson in scientific discovery: that “sometimes results that look at first like failure unleash unexpected new solutions, and your most important discoveries quite often spring up when you’re looking for something else.” “May we all take courage and inspiration from his example,” she concluded. Professor Ioannis V. Yannas was predeceased by his brother, Pavlos. He is survived by his children Tania Kluzak and her husband Gordon, and Alexi Yannas and his wife Maria; his grandchildren Alexandra, Marina, Sophia, Philippos, and Nefeli; his sister Elizabeth Sitinas; and many loving relatives and friends.
