The Stony Brook University Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI-SBU) held its 2019 Annual Meeting at the Charles B. Wang Center on May 1, and inducted 16 new members and 4 honorary members to the Academy. The newly inducted academic inventors have held patents issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office and from various departments, including Anesthesiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Orthopedics, Physics and Astronomy, Radiation Oncology, and Radiology. With these 20 new members, NAI-SBU now holds 88 NAI members, including 8 NAI fellows.
NAI-SBU’s Executive Director Peter Donnelly opened the Annual Meeting. He introduced a celebratory message from Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD, who said, “The Stony Brook University chapter of the National Academy of Inventors has a pivotal role at the University, bolstering the importance of our scientist-inventors and mentoring and inspiring next-generation scientists who have new inventions in mind. Each year I am impressed by the accomplishments of our researchers, especially the people in this room who collaborated on projects that led to many new patents that were issued to Stony Brook last year.” He further stated, “This chapter of the National Academy of Inventors helps not only to foster research that leads to academic inventions and entrepreneurship from faculty and students, but also to build a culture of innovation across all campus disciplines. If our researchers are to make revolutionary discoveries, translational research and collaboration will be the key.”
Vice President for Research Dr. Richard Reeder gave the opening remarks by recognizing the importance of the NAI-SBU Chapter and congratulating the newly inducted members. He said, “On the occasion of Stony Brook’s Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors, let me offer my congratulations to all of our researchers and innovators who are being honored tonight. These new members being inducted into the National Academy of Inventors have demonstrated the creativity and dedication that drives innovation for the betterment of our society. I especially applaud the recipients of the Young Inventor’s Awards, who have shown such a talent at an early stage in their careers. The success of Stony Brook’s inventors reflects the spirit of discovery that exemplifies the University’s research focus.”
NAI-SBU President Dr. Iwao Ojima described the NAI and its mission, NAI fellows, the background for the establishment of the NAI-SBU and its mission as well as action plan. He was happy to report about the two recently inducted NAI fellows, Dr. Kenneth Kaushansky, Dean of the School of Medicine and Senior Vice President of Health Sciences, and William Studier, Senior Biophysicist Emeritus at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry at Stony Brook University. They were inducted at the NAI Annual Meeting in Houston, TX in April. Dr. Ojima pointed out that The Research Foundation of SUNY is ranked 31st in the world for the number of US Utility Patents in the year 2017. As a fulfillment of NAI-SBU’s mission, he also reported about the successful establishment of the NAI-SBU “Young Academic Inventor’s Awards,” which it is now in its third year of establishment.
Dr. Ojima then conveyed a message from NAI President Dr. Paul Sanberg: “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Inventors, congratulations on another productive year of outstanding contributions to academic innovation! Welcome to all returning Stony Brook Chapter of the NAI members and congratulations to the 16 new members and 4 honorary members being inducted today. The NAI is proud to have Stony Brook University, a true innovation powerhouse, as part of our membership.” He certified the inductions by declaring, “In recognition of your support and commitment to advancing technological development and innovation, I hereby declare and certify that you are Members of the National Academy of Inventors and are granted all rights and privileges of the Academy.” He concluded by saying, “Congratulations, and we are honored to have you as members of the NAI and celebrate your accomplishments. It is wonderful to see the Stony Brook University Chapter of the NAI grow, and we look forward to learning of your continued success.” It gave a memorable moment to all inductees and attendees.
At the Induction Ceremony, each inductee was called to the stage, received the NAI Member Certificate and a photo taken with the NAI-SBU President and Executive Director. Following the ceremony, NAI-SBU Executive Committee Member Dr. Gerald Smaldone, School of Medicine Distinguished Professor and Pulmonologist, delivered the Keynote Lecture, “Inventions and Translational Research in Academia.” Dr. Smaldone described his success and innovative research endeavors on the development of aerosol devices. He explained the trials and tribulations of attending physicians in their journey for the pursuit of new research developments and inventions. He gracefully acknowledged the unending support provided by the Office of Technology Transfer throughout the years. It was a highly stimulating presentation and very well received by all attendees.
NAI-SBU also honored three winners of the “Young Academic Inventor’s Award” — who for the first time are all women:
Eszter Boros, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, for her discovery and for her invention of “Triazamacrocycle-Derived Chelators for the Coordination of Imaging and Therapy Metal Ions”
Cristina Lazzarini, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, for her innovative “Development of Novel Antifungal Compounds”
Krupanandan Haranahalli, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, for her invention of “A New Class of Highly Potent Antifungal Compounds”
Each winner received an award certificate and a $1,000 check.
The Annual Meeting concluded with Closing Remarks by Executive Director Donnelly, followed by photo sessions for award winners and NAI-SBU Executive Committee members. Receptions before and after the Annual Meeting provided excellent networking opportunities for new and old NAI members, awardees, Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Relations members, Center for Biotechnology staff members, and patent attorneys from law firms.
Membership in the NAI is available only through local university chapters. NAI currently holds more than 215 member institutions and 18 affiliated institutions worldwide, as well as 40 chapters, including NAI-SBU. Chapter members are automatically enrolled as members of the NAI, with all rights and privileges thereof. The SBU-NAI will foster research that leads to academic inventions and entrepreneurship from faculty and students. The chapter also helps build a culture of invention across all campus disciplines and cultivates the next generation of academic inventors.
New Members of SBU-NAI
NAI MEMBERS
Wadie Bahou, Professor, Department of Medicine
Avraham Dilmanian, Professor of Research, Department of Radiation Oncology
Bruce Futcher, Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Dmitri Gavrilov, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Amirhossein Goldan, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology
Michael Gurvitch, Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Gary Halada, Associate Professor, Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering
Rebecca Isseroff, Technician, Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering
Martin Kaczocha, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Steffen Mueller, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Vladimir Samuilov, Teaching Professor, Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering
Anurag Purwar, Research Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Daniel Raleigh, Professor, Department of Chemistry
Peter Tonge, Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry
Edward Wang, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics
Yimei Zhu, Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
NAI HONORARY MEMBERS
Sean Boykevisch, Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Relations
Alan Rosenberg, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Deborah A. Somerville, Fox Rothschild LLP
William Studier, Brookhaven National Laboratory
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