Congratulations to Randy Blakely, Ph.D. and Amy Wright, Ph.D., who have been named National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows. NAI Fellow status is the highest professional accolade bestowed upon academic inventors who have made an impact on quality of life, economic development and welfare of society. They join Gregg Fields, Ph.D., director of FAU’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, as NAI Fellows.

Dr. Blakely is executive director of the FAU Brain Institute and biomedical science professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. He is an internationally renowned neuroscientist and leading expert in synaptic pharmacology, neurotransmitter transporters and neurogenetics.

Dr. Wright is a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch. Her research explores possible use of marine products as human therapeutic agents, biological probes or lead structures for medicinal chemistry, with an emphasis on the discovery of compounds with anticancer properties.

This is a tremendous honor and well-deserved recognition for Dr. Blakely and Dr. Wright. I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments and contributions to science. We very fortunate to have two such renowned academic inventors in the FAU family.