Wayne State researcher honored by National Academy of Inventors

DETROIT - The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has announced the election of 185 exceptional inventors into its 2025 Class of Fellows. The 2025 cohort includes 169 U.S. distinguished academic and institutional inventors and 16 international fellows.

Dr. Gregory Auner, Strauss TEAMS Endowed Chair and professor of surgery and biomedical engineering at Wayne State University, was selected for NAI's 2025 Class of Fellows for his extraordinary invention, innovation and societal impact contributions.

"Dr. Auner's career exemplifies the NAI's mission to honor inventors who translate groundbreaking discoveries into tangible benefits for humanity," said Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State. "He is most deserving of this prestigious recognition."

In addition to his roles in surgery and biomedical engineering, Auner directs research at the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and holds an appointment at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. A pioneering figure in biomedical engineering, he has advanced medical device technology through innovations in Raman spectroscopy, neural implants and lab-on-a-chip systems.

Auner's research efforts at Wayne State led him to the role of chief science officer at Seraph Biosciences, where he drives the development of Raman spectroscopy-based diagnostic tools for rapid pathogen and cancer detection, enabling portable, efficient devices for clinical and field use. His neural implants, designed to restore vision and hearing by interfacing with the nervous system, are being commercialized with medical device companies, offering transformative solutions for sensory impairments. Additionally, his lab-on-a-chip technologies integrate lab functions into miniaturized devices, enhancing point-of-care diagnostics and making affordable testing accessible, especially in underserved regions.

As founder and director of the Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems program at Wayne State, Auner has been a principal investigator on more than $60 million in grants, fostering interdisciplinary research that bridges science and practical health care solutions. His extensive patent portfolio - 36 issued (28 U.S.) and 10 pending - includes medical device innovations licensed to co-founded companies like Seraph Biosciences, Venica LLC and Medical Engineering Partners. With more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and 8,000 citations, he is a respected reviewer for journals like Journal of Breast Cancerand Raman Spectroscopy. He also serves on review panels for the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and other scientific organizations, contributing to the advancement of biomedical research and technology.

"Being elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors is an extraordinary honor that affirms the impact of our team's work at the intersection of science, engineering and innovation," said Auner. "This recognition inspires my group and me to continue advancing technologies that translate research into real-world solutions that benefit society."

NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. Together, the 2025 class holds more than 5,300 U.S. patents and includes recipients of the Nobel Prize; the National Medals of Science and Technology & Innovation; and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, among others. This year's fellows represent 127 universities, government agencies and research institutions across 40 U.S. states.

The NAI Fellows program was founded in 2012 and has grown to include 2,253 distinguished researchers and innovators, who hold more than 86,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. Their innovations have generated an estimated $3.8 trillion in revenue and 1.4 million jobs.

"NAI fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world," said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the National Academy of Inventors. "We are thrilled to welcome this year's class of fellows to the academy. They are truly an impressive cohort, and we look forward to honoring them at our 15th annual conference in Los Angeles next year."

The 2025 Class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the NAI 15th Annual Conference on June 4th, 2026, taking place in Los Angeles.

Explore the full list of 2025 Fellows at the NAI website.

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu .