APRIL 25, 2025 — The University of Texas System (UT System) claimed third place in a recent ranking by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking scores all U.S. universities and consortia according to the number of U.S. utility patents an organization received in the prior year. NAI produces the list annually to recognize the significance of patents as a measure of innovation and an indicator of successful transfer of technology from academia into the global market.
“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI president. “Ensuring the security of intellectual property through patenting is a crucial component to this and allows those innovations to be effectively moved to market where they can create valuable societal and economic impact. The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.”
The combined patents across the UT System totaled 234 in 2024. The network of universities has held third place since the inaugural 2022 ranking.
“The UT System provides a unique and expansive environment for interdisciplinary research and invention that addresses the grand challenges in the world today. It shines a spotlight on the incredible talent we have across Texas,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, interim vice president for research at UTSA and vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio. “I’m proud to be part of a community that values and uplifts its researchers, enabling us to achieve this prestigious ranking year after year.”
Among last year’s new patent holders is Stanton F. McHardy, UTSA associate professor of medicinal chemistry and director of the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD). McHardy and his team secured a patent for a new formula of ammonium compounds designed to function as antimicrobial agents. The compounds disrupt bacterial cell membranes and may be able to interfere with intracellular processes, allowing them to treat bacterial infections and even modulate the microbiome.
“Infectious diseases are currently the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the threat is growing with the emergence of bacterial resistance to many antibiotics,” said McHardy. “This multifaceted issue requires sophisticated tools for clinicians to successfully confront. I’m hopeful that the formula our team designed will make a significant impact in both treatment and prevention of acute infection in patients.”
McHardy’s research focuses on various drug discovery approaches to neurological diseases, infectious diseases, non-opioid pain and cancer. His accomplished career as a researcher and inventor received recent recognition when he was named NAI Fellow in 2024.
The Top 100 U.S. Universities List is one of three rankings published annually by the NAI. These rankings are based on calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and aim to provide a comprehensive view of intellectual property protection in the innovation ecosystem. UTSA ranked no. 6 on the Top 100 Worldwide Universities List for 2024, which was published last month.
The Top 60 Non-Profit Research Institutions and Government Agencies rankings will be released this spring leading up to NAI’s 14th Annual Conference held in Atlanta.
UTSA is a Tier One research institution advancing knowledge through discovery, innovation and collaboration. With more than $173 million in annual research expenditures, the university is home to a thriving research ecosystem that brings together faculty, students and industry partners across disciplines to tackle society’s most pressing challenges.
Researchers at UTSA from a range of disciplines advance invention and commercialization, working closely with strategic partners from government, industry and academia. For example, biomedical researchers from UTSA and Southwest Research Institute are collaborating to design military helmet pads to more effectively prevent traumatic brain injury for service members. Another interdisciplinary team at UTSA is using audio feedback and virtual reality to treat balance impairments. Last year, faculty researcher and musician Steven Parker was granted a Fullbright scholarship to invent novel musical instruments. Meanwhile, space engineering researcher Alan Whittington and his team are learning how to melt the soil on the moon to make the building blocks needed to construct launch pads and other structures on the moon.
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Covidence is a systematic & scoping review tool used to streamline the process of screening and reviewing articles. Using this software, research teams can easily import studies, perform automatic deduplication, and extract data using templates. This workshop will show attendees how to start a review in Covidence, add collaborators, and get started on screening.
Virtual (Zoom)In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to Pandas, a Python tool for working with data easily. It makes it simple to organize and analyze information when data is organized and categorized, like spreadsheets or tables.
Group Spot B, John Peace LibraryEach fall and spring semester, students convene at the Main Campus at UTSA with booths, ideas and prototypes. A crowd of judges, local organizations, students, faculty and sponsors walk around and talk to the students about their projects and ask questions. Students get the real-life experience of "pitching" their project with hopes of getting funding or support to move to the next level.
UTSA Convocation Center, Main CampusJoin the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
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AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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