Das Selected as Fellow by National Academy of Inventors

• By Mark Hendricks
• December 11, 2024
• Research

Hiranmoy Das, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the organization announced Dec. 10. NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors, and this year’s class is comprised of 170 individuals.

The 2024 cohort of Fellows exemplifies the NAI’s belief that groundbreaking innovation knows no bounds and inventors can be found everywhere. This is evident in the fact that the honorees represent 39 U.S. states and 12 countries.

Das, who has been a member of NAI since 2018, said becoming an NAI Fellow makes him feel like he’s achieved one of the significant career milestones.

“Professionally, it is an honor to be associated with the extraordinary league of great innovative scientists,” Das added.

Das’s primary research focuses on stem cell therapy using stem cells collected from human tissue to treat degenerative diseases. His research interests also include the molecular mechanisms regulating the activation and functionality of monocytes (white blood cells) in the context of inflammation and identifying molecules responsible for recognizing various tumor cells (such as ovarian, breast and cervical) by human gamma delta T cells. 

Since 2018, Das has received or partnered on five patents, including Patent # US 2021/0189334 A1 (“Corneal epithelial cells and their products for treating corneal diseases.” Publication date 06-24-2021); Patent # WO 2019/241462 A1(“Stem cells for the treatment for conditions and diseases.” Publication date 12-19-2019); Patent # US 2019 / 0091310 A (“Nonreleased IL-12 for therapy of cancer.” Publication Date 3-28-2019); Patent # 8669106 (“Erythrocytes differentiated in vitro from nanofiber expanded CD133+ cells.” Publication date: 03-11-2014); and Patent # 20090285892 (“Methods and systems for expanding AC133+ cells and directing differentiation.” Publication date: 11-19-2009).

“There is great potential for stem cell therapies to replace the damaged cells and tissues underlying various medical conditions of the blood, eye and mouth,” Lance R. McMahon, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and innovation at TTUHSC explained. “TTUHSC is proud of Dr. Das’s groundbreaking work and its potential to treat disease with commercially viable products and approaches.”

Das joins a growing list of TTUHSC faculty inventors recognized by NAI for their outstanding innovations in biomedical science. That recognition began in 2018 when Samuel Prien, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, became the university’s first NAI Senior Member. In 2023, Lindsay Penrose, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Ted Reid, Ph.D., vice chairman for the School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, also were named NAI Senior Members, an honor received in 2024 by Hongjun “Henry” Liang, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics.

In addition, Prien was named an NAI Fellow in 2021, as was P. Hemachandra Reddy, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine, in 2023.

The 2024 NAI Fellows hail from 135 research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide and their work spans across various disciplines. They are renowned researchers holding prestigious honors and distinctions such as the Nobel Prize, the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the National Medal of Science and membership to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. These incredible inventors also collectively hold more than 5,000 issued U.S. patents, and their innovations are making significant and tangible societal and economic impacts today and will continue well into the future.

Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators who hold more than 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 more than $3.2 trillion in revenue and 1.2 million jobs. The 2024 Class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting June 26 in Atlanta.