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Ioannis V. Yannas, Ph.D.

AIMBE College of Fellows Class of 1993
For the development of analogs of extracellular matrix to facilitate the regeneration of tissue, in particular skin and nerve.

Professor Ioannis Yannas, pioneer of regenerative medicine who invented artificial skin for the treatment of severe burns, dies at 90

Via MIT | October 27, 2025

A beloved member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering for nearly 60 years, Yannas helped saved the lives of thousands of burn victims through his research and innovation.

Professor Ioannis V. Yannas SM ’59, a physical chemist and engineer known for the invention of artificial skin for the treatment of severe burns, and a longtime member of the MIT faculty, died on Oct. 19 at the age of 90.

“Professor Yannas was a beloved and distinguished colleague, teacher, and mentor. The impact of his inventions, and his legacy on the field of bioengineering was immense,” says John Hart, the Class of 1922 Professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering… Continue reading.

Faculty Spotlight: Professor Ioannis V. Yannas

Via MIT MECHE | September 1, 2012

A Lifetime of Biomaterials Engineering Achievement

In 1969, Professor Ioannis V. Yannas was an expert on fibers and polymers at MIT when Dr. John F. Burke approached him with a request for help. A surgeon, Burke had made significant strides in burn treatment but was still missing a piece of the puzzle.

“He wanted something to keep the bacteria out,” said Yannas, “and keep the moisture in.”

Human skin and pig skin, which were often used in burn treatments, were commonly rejected by the body’s immune system, and the immune suppressants given to patients left them vulnerable to infection. The other obstacle was dehydration. No one had yet found a way of building skin that could absorb and maintain moisture.

With a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Harvard College, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from MIT, a second master’s degree in physical chemistry from Princeton University, and a PhD in physical chemistry from Princeton, Yannas was a good choice to help Burke with his mission.

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