Clemens van Blitterswijk graduated as cell biologist from Leiden University in 1982, defending his PhD thesis in 1985 at the same university. Today his research focuses on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, forming a unique basis of multidisciplinary research between materials and life sciences. Van Blitterswijk has authored and co-authored more than 380 peer reviewed papers (H index 90, Scopus); is one of the most frequently cited Dutch scientists in TE; the applicant and co-applicant of over 100 patents; has guided 50 PhD candidates through their thesis as supervisor or co-supervisor and currently has 30 PhD candidates under his supervision. Dr. van Blitterswijk received a number of prestigious international awards including the George Winter award of the European society for Biomaterials, the Career Achievement Award of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society and is a member of the KNAW (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences).