Wellington Pham has been named a National Academy of Inventors Fellow, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors. The NAI announced today the election of 170 exceptional inventors from 135 research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide into the 2024 Class of Fellows. Fellows will be inducted at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting in June in Atlanta.
Pham, who is a professor of radiology and biomedical engineering, is a leading expert in molecular probe design. Pham's groundbreaking work involves the innovative integration of medicinal chemistry with advanced biomarker imaging techniques, which play a crucial role in identifying various diseases at an early stage.
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 health care and improving lives.
Pham is the lead inventor of several U.S. patents and 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 ADEKA Corporation from Japan. Additionally, Pham contributed his expertise as a consultant to ADEKA for a decade, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application.
Pham has organized seven international conferences on molecular imaging and has been invited to speak about his research at 54 conferences and seminars worldwide. His work has been published in over 70 publications and nearly 100 articles, including book chapters, conference abstracts, and editorials. He is also the author of the textbook Principles of Molecular Probe Design and Applications.
Pham has served on the Editorial Board of several journals: Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine (2014-2016), the American Association for Cancer Research - Chemistry in Cancer Research (2012-2014), the Journal of Molecular Biomarkers and Diagnosis (2011-present), and the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (2014-2016).
In recognition of his contributions, Pham received the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research Distinguished Investigator Award (2019) and was an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2022), the Royal Society of Chemistry (2023), and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (2023).
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.
