The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) proudly announces its 2024 class of Senior Members, honoring 124 distinguished academic inventors from NAI’s Member Institutions. Among them is Ruogu Fang, Ph.D., recognized for being a rising leader in her field with success in patents, licensing, and commercialization, and for producing “technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society.”

NAI Senior Members represent a select group of active faculty, scientists, and administrators who have demonstrated exceptional innovation leading to tangible societal impact. Fang’s induction into this esteemed class is a testament to her success in patents, licensing, and commercialization, and her dedication to educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors.

Fang, associate professor & J. Crayton Pruitt Family Term Fellow at the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, specializes in integrating artificial intelligence and deep learning with the complexities of the human brain. Her research focuses on AI-empowered precision brain health and brain/bio-inspired AI, tackling pressing issues such as early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and personalized treatment outcomes.

The 2024 class of NAI Senior Members is the largest to date and comprises inventors from 60 NAI Member Institutions nationwide. Notably, 50% of this year’s Senior Members are outstanding female and/or underrepresented academic inventors, reflecting NAI’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the academic ecosystem.

“This year’s class of Senior Members is truly a testament to the outstanding innovation happening at NAI Member Institutions and what happens when the academic space encourages and celebrates invention and commercialization,” said Paul Sanberg, president of NAI. “We are proud to welcome these outstanding academic inventors to the academy and look forward to supporting and celebrating them as they continue in their innovation journeys.”

Fang will be formally inducted into the National Academy of Inventors at the 13th NAI Annual Conference on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Raleigh, NC. The conference, scheduled from June 16 to 18, will celebrate the achievements of the 2024 class and feature discussions on cutting-edge innovation and commercialization.

For more information about the NAI Annual Conference and registration details, please visit the NAI conference webpage.