The UT Research Foundation (UTRF) proudly hosted its annual Innovation Awards on November 25 in Knoxville and December 4 in Memphis, commemorating 90 years of advancing research, commercialization, and innovation. UTRF recognized 3 startups, 36 commercialization agreements, and 25 issued patents during these two events. Additionally, UTRF recognized two exceptional researchers with the prestigious 2024 Innovator of the Year award, highlighting their impact on innovation and entrepreneurship.
UTRF President Maha Krishnamurthy welcomed attendees to the 2024 Innovation Awards, reflecting on the significance of this year’s milestone. “This year marks a momentous occasion as we celebrate 90 years of fostering groundbreaking innovation,” Krishnamurthy said. “From the very beginning, innovation has been at the heart of our mission.”
UT System President Randy Boyd echoed the importance of innovation, describing UT as the “pinnacle of innovation and envy of the nation.”
A key highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the 2024 Innovator of the Year award, which was bestowed upon two remarkable researchers for their outstanding contributions:
Knoxville: Dr. Uday Vaidya, a renowned leader in composites manufacturing and a prominent innovator at UT Knoxville, received the award for his exceptional work in advancing the field of advanced composites. Dr. Vaidya, UT/ORNL Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing, is a professor, mentor, and Chief Technology Officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites and Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).
Vaidya’s impact goes beyond patents and company start-ups; he has fostered a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, including Dr. Ryan Spencer of ThermaMatrix, Dr. Hicham Ghossein of Endeavor Composites, Alex Stiles of Vitriform3D, and Vinit Chaudhary of Aligned Composites Technology. All four entrepreneurs are participants of the prestigious “Innovation Crossroads” program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“Dr. Vaidya is one of our most prolific innovators. His contributions to advanced composites and his dedication to mentoring the next wave of innovators and entrepreneurs make him an invaluable asset to UTRF and the entire UT community,” said Kusum Rathore, UTRF Vice President, Multi-Campus Office.
Memphis: Dr. Wei Li of the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) was honored for his pioneering work in medicinal chemistry and small-molecule drug discovery. Dr. Li, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of the UTHSC College of Pharmacy Drug Discovery Center, has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and holds more than ten U.S. patents. As Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of SEAK Therapeutics LLC, Li is translating cutting-edge research into real-world therapeutic solutions with the potential to address critical health challenges.
“Dr. Li is a prolific researcher, generous collaborator, and simply a joy to work with,” said Todd Ponzio, UTRF Vice President, Health Science Center Office. “His unwavering dedication to drug discovery is an asset not only to UTHSC but also to the future patients who will benefit from his groundbreaking work. UTRF is proud to present him with the 2024 Innovator of the Year award.”
In addition to the Innovator of the Year awards, UTRF’s 90th anniversary celebrations recognized UTRF’s ongoing commitment to advancing the research-to-commercialization pipeline. Since its founding in 1934, UTRF has been crucial in transforming groundbreaking research into impactful products and services that improve lives.