The Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences is proud to share that Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering Wellington Pham, PhD, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
A medicinal chemist with decades of experience developing molecular probes for biomarker imaging, Dr. Pham is the lead inventor of several U.S. patents/patent applications in molecular probe chemistry for use in fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. The technology from his lab has been adapted and supported by industry leaders. Additionally, Pham contributed his expertise as a consultant to industry for a decade, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application.
The NAI Fellow Selection Committee has acknowledged his exceptional contributions as an inventor, highlighting his significant impact on innovation, economic development, and the improvement of society. Through his pioneering research, Professor Pham is not only advancing scientific knowledge but also enhancing the quality of healthcare and improving lives.
The NAI was founded to recognize and encourage inventors with U.S. patents, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and to create wider public understanding of how its members’ inventions benefit society.
Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 68,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and generated 1.2 million jobs.
Dr. Pham has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Research Distinguished Investigator Award form the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging in 2019. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
