Ideas That Changed Medicine 5 Conversations with Bob Langer | Bob Langer | TEDxBoston

Описание: Celebration of Bob Langer. Interviewed by John Werner.

In this rare and intimate conversation, Sam Langer sits down with his father, legendary scientist and inventor Bob Langer, to trace the arc of his life’s work. Together they explore the breakthroughs, setbacks, and serendipitous moments that shaped one of the most influential careers in biotechnology. What emerges is a deeply human portrait of curiosity, persistence, and purpose—told across generations.

In this conversation, physician-scientist Daniel Kohane interviews legendary biomaterials pioneer Bob Langer to uncover the secrets behind a research career that has shaped modern medicine. Together they explore the habits, mindset, collaborations, and scientific instincts that enabled Langer to produce breakthrough work year after year. This is a rare look inside the principles and practices that fuel decades of sustained innovation.

In this heartfelt conversation, scientist and entrepreneur Shriya Srinivasan interviews her mentor, the iconic Bob Langer, about the twin pillars that have shaped his extraordinary career: a devotion to science and a commitment to kindness. Together they explore how curiosity, generosity, and the simple act of uplifting others can catalyze breakthroughs, strengthen teams, and sustain a lifetime of impact. It’s a rare, personal window into the values behind one of the most influential scientific careers of our time.

In this conversation, Jan-George Rosenboom interviews pioneering scientist Bob Langer about the journey from lab-bench breakthroughs to real-world impact. Together they explore how ideas evolve into technologies, how research translates into companies, and what it takes to move innovations from experiments to products that improve millions of lives. It’s a masterclass in scientific translation from one of the most impactful researchers of our time.


Robert S. Langer completed his undergraduate stidies in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University and obtained his Sc.D in Chemical Engineering at MIT. He joined MIT as Assistant Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry in 1978. Dr. Langer has written over 1,250 articles and also has nearly 1,050 patents worldwide. Dr. Langer’s patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 250 pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology and medical device companies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx