VCU’s P. Srirama Rao selected as a 2024 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

By David Oglethorpe

Srirama Rao, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University's vice president for research and innovation, has been named as a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors' 2024 class. This prestigious distinction recognizes Rao's contributions to innovation and his leadership in translating research into real-world solutions.

"Vice President Srirama Rao has been a strong and committed leader in strategically growing and shaping VCU's research enterprise," said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. "Under his direction, VCU research is advancing to the next level, allowing VCU to save more lives and expand its impact on the people in our communities and our world. He is deeply committed to innovation and the development and commercialization of technologies that improve human health. My warmest congratulations to him on receiving this distinction from the NAI."

The NAI fellowship is the highest professional distinction highlighting academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life. Collectively, NAI fellows hold over 5,000 issued U.S. patents, and their inventions have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and created 1.2 million jobs.

Rao holds 22 issued patents (11 U.S. and 11 international) contributing to the development of technologies that address critical medical needs. He co-founded two clinical-stage startups associated with the development of innovative medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Rao's most significant contribution is the cardiac basal annuloplasty system, a minimally invasive device that corrects leakage of the heart valves, which received the CE marking approval in Europe.

Beyond his inventions and startups, Rao's leadership and advocacy for technology transfer and collaborative approaches to discovery have propelled record-breaking growth in sponsored funding at VCU and a flourishing innovation ecosystem, including 86% growth of sponsored funding over the past six years. Rao's commitment to transdisciplinary and team science has encouraged collaboration across disciplines, leading to groundbreaking research.

"I am truly honored and humbled by my election as an NAI fellow," Rao said. "Throughout my career, I have always believed that inventions and innovation have the power to change lives for the better. It is crucial that we continue to try to find answers to some of our most difficult questions by addressing them with novel inventions. I count myself fortunate to now lead the research efforts at a university that is aligned with this belief."

Rao joins eight VCU faculty inventors who have previously been elected as NAI fellows. His nomination was supported by colleagues who highlighted his record as a researcher, entrepreneur and leader in research administration. He will be formally inducted into the NAI at its 14th annual meeting on June 26, 2025, in Atlanta.

Several of Rao's patents were initially developed during his tenure as vice president of research at the La Jolla Institute Molecular Medicine while in San Diego and subsequently when he was at the University of Minnesota.

Before joining VCU in fall 2018, Rao served as associate dean for research at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, he had a transformational impact, significantly boosting the college's research enterprise and promoting collaboration between veterinary medicine and other disciplines including human medicine and environmental science.

At Minnesota, he also launched the International Conference on One Medicine One Science and the Consortium on One Medicine One Science, both of which played a crucial role in advancing the science behind One Health, an approach that recognizes health links among humans, animals, plants and the environment, and addressing global health challenges.

This year's NAI fellows cohort reflects the academy's belief that groundbreaking innovation can come from anywhere. The 2024 fellows hail from 39 U.S. states and 12 countries, and 43% identify as underrepresented inventors.

"This year's class of NAI fellows represents a truly impressive caliber of inventors," said Paul Sanberg, Ph.D., president of the NAI. "These individuals are tackling real-world issues and creating solutions that propel us into the future. Through their work, they are making significant contributions to science, creating lasting societal impact and growing the economy."