Dr. Bob Hariri is a surgeon, biomedical scientist and highly successful serial entrepreneur in two technology sectors: biomedicine and aerospace. As the chairman, founder and chief executive officer of one of the world’s largest human cellular therapeutics companies, Celularity, and as the founder and former CEO of Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, a division of Celgene Corporation, Dr. Hariri has pioneered the use of stem cells to treat a range of life–threatening diseases and has made transformative contributions to the field of tissue engineering and functional regeneration. Dr. Hariri has over 150 issued and pending patents, has authored over 150 published chapters, articles and abstracts and is most recognized for his discovery of pluripotent stem cells from the placenta and as a member of the team which discovered the physiological activities of tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
Dr. Hariri was a recipient of the Thomas Alva Edison Award in 2007 and 2011, The Fred J. Epstein Lifetime Achievement Award and has received numerous other honors for his many contributions to the fields of biomedicine and aviation.
Dr. Hariri is an adjunct associate professor of pathology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a former member of the board of visitors of the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Science and Technology Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is a member of the scientific advisory board for the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, which is awarded by the X PRIZE Foundation. Dr. Hariri is also a trustee and vice–chair of the Liberty Science Center and has been appointed Commissioner of Cancer Research by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Dr. Hariri is the co–founder of Human Longevity, Inc., and is also a member of the board of trustees of the J. Craig Venter Institute.
Dr. Hariri completed his undergraduate training at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Columbia College and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University where he was the recipient of both the Julian R. Rachele Award and Doctoral Dissertation Award. He received his surgical training at The New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center.
In addition, Dr. Hariri is a jet–rated commercial pilot with thousands of hours of flight time in over 60 different military and civilian aircraft. He has also produced several feature films as well as documentaries on global societal issues.