Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Elected Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named 54 academic inventors to the Spring 2019 class of NAI Senior Members, including Stanton L. Gerson, MD, Director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC).

NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from its Member Institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society. They also have proven success in patents, licensing and commercialization.

Gerson, who is also Director of the National Center for Regenerative Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, holds 16 U.S. patents for stem cells and drug discovery, and his research focuses on the relationship between stem cells, DNA and cancer. These discoveries have led to two agents in cancer clinical trials across the nation.

Under Gerson’s leadership last year, the National Cancer Institute designated the Case CCC “exceptional,” the highest rating possible. The Center, which serves the cancer research and clinical needs of more than four million people in Ohio and beyond, is one of only a handful of 50 such entities to earn an exceptional rating after extensive review of its programs.

“Stan’s innovative research and ability to mentor up-and-coming cancer researchers makes him an ideal choice for the NAI Senior Member class,” said Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD, Dean the School of Medicine and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University. “His patents will continue to drive us forward in providing new therapies for patients across Cleveland and throughout the world.”

Gerson is also the Asa & Patricia Shiverick – Jane B. Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematologic Oncology, Distinguished University Professor, and Vice Dean for Oncology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In addition, he is a physician in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

This latest class of NAI Senior Members represents 32 research universities and government and non-profit research institutes. They are named inventors on over 860 issued U.S. patents.

“NAI Member Institutions support some of the most elite innovators on the horizon. With the NAI Senior Member award distinction, we are recognizing innovators that are rising stars in their fields,” said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI President. “This new class is joining a prolific group of academic visionaries already defining tomorrow.”

Following a nomination for NAI Senior Member class, individuals undergo a rigorous selection process by the NAI Advisory Committee comprised of elected NAI members and other professionals considered pioneers in their respective field.

Previous Case Western Reserve members elected to the NAI include Mark A. Griswold, PhD, professor in the Department of Radiology. A full list of NAI Senior Members is available on the NAI website.

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About the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) is a partnership organization of Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic. The Case CCC serves the cancer research and clinical needs of an urban manufacturing and rural agricultural region containing over 4 million people in Northern Ohio, providing a unique forum and academic network for cancer researchers across the community. This network allows for a strong, unified effort to understand the causes and progression of cancer and using that understanding to ultimately develop treatments to reduce the likelihood that our population will develop cancer and suffer from its consequences. The Cancer Center advocates for cancer research support across the institutions; provides funding for promising pilot projects, shared resource development, training programs and recruitments; and catalyzes multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary cancer research across institutions, emphasizing innovative discovery that will have an impact on cancer patients. For more information, visit cancer.case.edu.

About the National Academy of Inventors The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions worldwide. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI publishes the multidisciplinary journal, Technology & Innovation. For more information, visit www.academyofinventors.org.

Senior Members are elected biannually, and nominations are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations are currently being accepted for the third Senior Member class on the NAI website.