Brains behind big — and profitable — ideas get their due

The National Academy of Inventors spotlights the University of South Florida's many entrepreneurial faculty members.

By Business Observer Staff
| 6:00 a.m. August 30, 2019
| 0 Free Articles Remaining!

Dr. Robert Frisina works with a student in his lab at USF. Courtesy photo.

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Everyone knows who invented the light bulb, the telephone, the polio vaccine and other monumental achievements of human inquisitiveness. But for every Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of other inventors who will likely never be household names despite bringing influential products to market.

Inventive honorees

The four other USF faculty members to be named NAI senior members are:

Dr. Cesar Borlongan, professor of neurosurgery at USF’s Morsani College of Medicine. A holder of 16 patents, Borlongan is a leader in stem-cell therapy for stroke victims.
James Leahy, professor of chemistry and molecular medicine. Leahy, with 25 patents, has developed drugs to treat cancer and hypertension that are sold in the U.S. and Japan, respectively.
George Philippidis, associate professor and dean at the Patel College of Global Sustainability. Philippidis is a pioneer in the commercialization of the conversion of algae and biomass to sustainable bioproducts and fuels, and he holds 11 patents.
Sylvia Thomas, associate professor of electrical engineering. Thomas' work has helped developed low-cost, low-power, miniaturized electronic circuitry. She holds eight patents.