Innovation

CICATS Science Café on Innovation and Inventorship

Posted on by Melanie L Burnat

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

The Innovation and Inventorship Science Cafe took place on Friday, September 29 at the Lyceum in downtown Hartford. Facilitated by Dr. Lakshmi Nair, a panel consisting of Dr. Greg Gallo, Dr. Mostafa Analouri, and Mr. Paul Parker discussed their roles in the process of innovation and invention at UConn, as well as the programs and services available in their offices. Over 60 faculty members, researchers, students, engineers, clinicians, and staff attended the event. Through engaging conversation and audience questions, the Science Cafe was well-received and generated positive feedback from attendees.

The event was made possible through the support of the CICATS faculty and staff, the Office of the Vice President for Research at UConn, and especially, The Kavli Foundation.

CICATS Science Café on Innovation and Inventorship

CICATS Science Café on Innovation and Inventorship

Connecticut’s First Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors

Posted on by Melanie L Burnat

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

The University of Connecticut hosted the inaugural gathering for Connecticut’s first chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) at the Lyceum in Hartford on September 29. New members were inducted at this event.

The NAI was founded at the University of Southern Florida in 2010 to recognize the contributions of scientist-inventors across all disciplines of the university community. The UConn Chapter was just established with three current members/fellows. In addition to UConn, the NAI has 214 member institutions and 15 international affiliates with a combined membership of 4,000+ members. There are 42 chapters in all. An NAI chapter can include faculty, staff, students, alumni, and affiliates. To receive this distinction from NAI, a researcher must be named inventor on patent(s) issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and must be affiliated with a university, non-profit research institute, or other academic entity.

The inauguration ceremony was followed by a Science Café on “Innovation and Inventorship,” a Kavli Brain event, sponsored by Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (CICATS) and the Kavli Foundation.

Congratulations to everyone on a superb event!

National Academy of Inventors

National Academy of Inventors

IRE’s Lakshmi Nair Inducted as National Academy of Inventors Fellow

Posted on by Melanie L Burnat

Dr. Lakshmi Nair was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) at its 6th annual meeting in Boston

By Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.

In April, Dr. Lakshmi Nair was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) at its 6th annual meeting in Boston. She is one of the youngest individuals to be elected to the NAI, and she is the third person (preceded by Dr. Pramod Srivastava and me) to be elected from UConn. Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Nominees must be a named inventor on patent(s) issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and must be affiliated with a university, non-profit research institute or other academic entity.

Dr. Nair’s novel research focuses on the development of new therapies using regenerative biomaterials to enhance tissue repair and regeneration, including innovative ways to regrow musculoskeletal tissue. She currently serves as a tenured associate professor of orthopedic surgery and is associate director for science administration at the Institute for Regenerative Engineering. In addition, she is also a faculty member of biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering at UConn.