Salk scientist Fred Gage named to National Academy of Inventors

December 12, 2013

Salk scientist Fred Gage named to National Academy of Inventors

December 12, 2013

LA JOLLA—Fred H. Gage, professor in the Salk Institute’s Laboratory of Genetics and holder of the Vi and John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disease, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

NAI Fellows, who must be nominated by their peers, are honored for having demonstrated “a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions and innovations that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.” Fellows must be a named inventor on at least one patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and must be affiliated with a university, nonprofit research institute or other academic entity.

Gage’s research focuses on modeling diseases in the laboratory using human stem cells. Through reprogramming of human somatic cells from patients with neurologic and psychiatric disease, his work seeks to understand the progression and mechanisms that lead to neuronal and glial dysfunction. His lab also studies the genomic mosaicism that exists in the brain as a result of mobile elements that are active during neurogenesis. Specifically, Dr. Gage is interested in differences between individuals and how somatic-induced genomic mosaicism may lead to functional diversity.

Gage joins a number of accomplished innovators in the 2013 class who collectively hold more than 5,600 U.S. patents. Included are 26 presidents and senior leadership of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 69 members of the National Academies, five inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, two recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science and nine Nobel Laureates.

Gage will be inducted into the NAI by the deputy U.S. commissioner for patents during the Academy’s annual conference in Alexandria, Virginia, next March.

The National Academy of Inventors is a non-profit organization comprised of over 3,000 members spanning more than 200 institutions. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors holding patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as to 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 edits the multidisciplinary journal Technology and Innovation–Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.

Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, M.D., the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.