Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Prof. Karp embraces a philosophy of lifelong learning and mentorship, continually seeking to expand and share his knowledge and guide others on their academic and professional journeys. He is a distinguished professor of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is also a principal faculty member at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and an affiliate faculty member at the Broad Institute and at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Karp’s BioInspired innovations have led to many seminal publications with over 33,000 citations (top 0.1% globally in 2023 Clarivate ranking). He has co-founded twelve companies, that have raised >$600 million, with multiple products in development or on the market. Karp was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Royal Society of Chemistry, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

His inventions include a photocurable adhesive technology for tissue reconstruction (Tissium, EU Approval in 2017) and 3D printed biomedical devices, immunomodulation with biologically responsive materials (Alivio Tx, acquired by Puretech Health in 2021), small molecule regenerative therapeutics (NASDAQ IPO), a nasal spray to neutralize pathogens (Akita Biosciences), targeted therapy for brain disorders, osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, cannabinoid therapeutics (Molecular Infusions acquired by Parallel in 2019), biomedical devices to improve child safety (Landsdowne Labs), needles that automatically stop at their target to deliver gene therapy (Bullseye Therapeutics, acquired by Meira Tx in 2021), and a bioengineered luminal coating for controlled GI targeting (Altrix Bio).

Karp has received >50 awards and honors. Boston Magazine recognized Karp as one of 11 Boston Doctors Making Medical Breakthroughs. His work has been selected by Popular Mechanic's as one of the Top 20 New Biotech Breakthroughs that Will Change Medicine. The Boston Business Journal recognized him in 2011 as a Champion in Healthcare Innovation and as a 2023 Inaugural Innovator in Healthcare. He gave a commencement speech at his high school (Crestwood) in 2011, and a TEDMED talk in 2014 on bioinspired medical innovation, and from 2015-2019 was a member of the TEDMED Editorial Advisory Board. In 2015 Jeff was a commencement speaker at the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry and Pharmacy. In 2018 Karp gave a TEDx talk on Radical Simplicity and in 2019 he was a grade 8 commencement speaker at the Talcott Mountain Academy in Connecticut.

In addition to his research goals, Karp is dedicated to supporting the careers of the next-generation bioengineers at the forefront of biomedical innovation. He was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Undergraduate Mentor among all faculty at MIT and he received the HST McMahon Mentoring award for being the top mentor of Harvard-MIT students. His dedication to mentoring has borne global impact: to date, 30 trainees have secured esteemed faculty positions worldwide and have furthered the spirit of innovation by advancing numerous technologies to effect meaningful change worldwide.