Image: UGA launches National Academy of Inventors chapter original article by Brandon Ward The academy promotes innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions The University of Georgia officially launched its chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) during a kickoff event on April 28. The chapter will celebrate and support the achievements of inventors at UGA. Since its founding, NAI has promoted innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions by recognizing and empowering U.S. patent holders, supporting education and mentorship, and partnering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to broaden access to the innovation ecosystem. “This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the innovative spirit of our faculty and researchers. It not only recognizes those whose work has made a tangible impact through patented technologies but also builds a community that values mentorship, collaboration and the pursuit of solutions that benefit society,” said Derek Eberhart, associate vice president for research and executive director of Innovation Gateway, UGA’s technology commercialization unit. “This chapter reinforces UGA’s commitment to fostering innovation in support of its land-grant mission.” UGA’s chapter launches with 31 founding members composed of faculty from a range of disciplines. Holly Sellers, College of Veterinary Medicine; Ron Orlando, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; and Hitesh Handa, College of Engineering, make up the founding executive board. The chapter currently includes seven NAI Fellows, two of whom are lifetime members, and 13 NAI senior members. Eligibility is based on a demonstrated spirit of innovation and a record of creating or facilitating inventions that have made a meaningful impact on society. “The founding of a UGA chapter for the National Academy of Inventors is a logical next step in the evolution of UGA’s phenomenal innovation ecosystem,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “This chapter represents an exciting opportunity to build community around our campus innovators, including faculty, staff and students alike, and provide additional mentorship and support to help them achieve their goals.” For the launch of the chapter, current faculty who met specific criteria were invited to apply as founding members. These criteria included active faculty who were NAI fellows or senior members as of June 30, 2024, as well as those who had been issued three or more U.S. patents between fiscal years 2015 and 2024. Looking ahead, chapter members will establish criteria for future membership. These may include regular, honorary or student members. It is anticipated that new members will be inducted annually. Chapter members will advance the mission of UGA’s Innovation District by mentoring early-career faculty on innovation and commercialization, raising the visibility of innovation, increasing recognition of faculty and student innovation, and promoting opportunities to expand the university’s innovation ecosystem. “As always, I’m thrilled with the level of innovation at UGA,” said Chris Rhodes, executive director of the Innovation District. “I’m excited for what the possibilities are when you get this type of interdisciplinary engagement ramped up.” The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization that includes U.S. and international universities, governmental agencies and nonprofit research institutes. It has more than 4,600 individual members across more than 260 institutions worldwide. UGA’s new chapter will help amplify the impact of its researchers and build connections across disciplines in support of translational research. Congratulations to Dr. Christine Szymanski, Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Christine Szymanski is a professor, associate head of the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Department of Microbiology and member of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. She is a leading researcher in the areas of Campylobacter pathogenesis and microbial glycobiology. Her trailblazing efforts have laid the foundation for researchers in this field and are critical for the development of vaccines and therapeutics for animal and human health. In addition to her research, Szymanski has been named inventor on six U.S.-issued patents, along with many issued foreign patents and numerous pending patents. Her patents have been licensed to seven companies for the development of interventions against bacterial infections. GlycoVaxyn, a specialist vaccine pharmaceutical company, was founded to leverage discoveries she made during her postdoctoral studies. The company was later purchased by GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline) for nearly $200 million. In 2013, Szymanski co-founded VaxAlta to develop glycoconjugate vaccines for human and animal health.
