Five Inventors at Texas A&M Named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors
By: Crystal Carter, Ed.D.
Five researchers from across The Texas A&M University System have been named Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Class of 2026, recognizing their contributions to patented technologies and innovations that have the potential to improve lives and drive economic progress. Together, these Texas A&M innovators represent advances spanning biomedical engineering, drug delivery, advanced manufacturing, intelligent systems, and next-generation biomedical therapies. (Read more.)
The Texas A&M honorees include:
- Guillermo Aguilar, professor and department head in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, leads research that bridges engineering, medicine, and biophotonics. His work focuses on laser–tissue interactions, biomedical optics, and laser-based medical technologies, which enable more precise and minimally invasive medical procedures. These innovations help enable real-world clinical solutions, including improved diagnostic tools and laser-based treatments that minimize tissue damage and accelerate patient recovery.
- Narendra Kumar, associate professor at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, develops targeted drug delivery systems and nanoscale therapeutic platforms designed to improve how medicines reach disease sites. Kumar’s research explores the biological pathways that drive chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders, with a particular focus on the enzyme Jak3, which plays a role in immune regulation and inflammatory diseases. These technologies may help address a wide range of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer, where more precise therapeutic delivery can improve effectiveness and reduce side effects.
- Heng Pan, associate professor in the Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, is advancing the future of manufacturing through additive manufacturing and laser-based micro- and nano-processing technologies. Pan’s research investigates how lasers interact with materials at extremely small scales to enable high-precision fabrication of electronics, energy devices, and advanced materials. By combining transport phenomena, materials science, and laser processing, Pan’s research is helping to unlock new manufacturing capabilities that support next-generation technologies.
- Xingyong Song, professor in the Department of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution, develops technologies that advance modern mechatronics, intelligent systems, and automated engineering solutions. Song’s research focuses on advanced control systems, robotics, and mechatronic integration, helping create smarter engineered products and more efficient automated systems. His work strengthens the design of intelligent machines capable of performing complex tasks across industries including manufacturing, robotics, and smart infrastructure, where integrated sensing, control, and mechanical systems are essential.
- Yubin Zhou, professor in the Department of Translational Medical Sciences and director of the Center for Translational Cancer Research, conducts pioneering research at the intersection of ion channel biology, epigenetics, synthetic biology, and optogenetics. His laboratory develops technologies that enable precise, programmable control of cellular signaling and immune responses, using light and other stimuli to regulate protein activity and gene expression. These platforms support the development of next-generation therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders, including engineered immune cells and programmable biologics that target disease at the molecular level. Zhou holds multiple patents and has published extensively on calcium signaling and optogenetic technologies that could transform how researchers study and treat disease.
The NAI Senior Member program recognizes emerging leaders in invention and innovation whose patented technologies have already made—or show strong potential to make—significant societal impact. The 2026 cohort includes 230 innovators from 82 institutions worldwide, representing the largest class to date.
