New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Hosts Awards Banquet
Leaders of Innovation Recognized for Accomplishments
Philippe de L. Pierre-Paul
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Campus News
The New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame (NJIHOF) hosted an awards banquet at Stevens Institute of Technology to recognize New Jersey inventors whose contributions significantly impact the global scientific community on Thursday, October 22. These are "innovators of what the world needs," said Dr. Gertrude Clarke, president of the NJIHOF. At this year's Black Tie event, two New Jersey citizens joined the Inventors Hall of Fame ranks with the title "recognized luminary." The NJIHOF inducted Yvonne Clays Brill for her pioneering innovations in the area of rockets and jet propulsion, and Dr. Edward Taylor for his development of the molecule Alimta.
Specifically, Ms. Brill conceived a new rocket engine, the hydrazine resistojet, and she foresaw the inherent value and simplicity of using a single propellant. "At the time, the field was new and exciting," said Ms. Brill. "Space was an unclassified regime." Brill started her career in rockets on the top-secret project RAND at Douglas Aircraft in 1946. Her major breakthrough came in 1981 while working at RCA. Successful flight of the first Teflon Solid Propellant Propulsion System brought electric propulsion to an operational status in the United States. When asked about advice for ambitious inventors, Ms. Brill replied, "Just have faith in yourself."
Dr. Edward C. Taylor, Princeton University Professor Emeritus, spent most of his career seeking compounds that would disrupt folic acid processing in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Dr. Taylor's investigation gained ground with his Princeton team's 1985 discovery of the promising DDATHF molecule. His 1991 U.S. Patent of pemetrexed, the molecule that simultaneously targets and blocks three key folate-requiring enzymes needed for tumor growth. The Food and Drug Administration approved the molecule now referred to as Alimta after 13 years of tests and trials. Alimta stands as the only drug for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. Applications include treatment for those suffering from cancers caused by asbestos poisoning and lung cancers and trials are underway for the treatment of other cancers. By the end of 2008, Alimta stood as the most successful new cancer drug in history, based on sales. "This project is an example of purely academic research," said Taylor. "It has been fun."
In addition to inducting two Hall of Famers, the NJIHOF presented several distinct awards to outstanding New Jersey inventors. Honors were for the Graduate Student Award, Special Award, Advancement of Innovation Award, Innovator Award, Inventor of the Year, Corporate Award and the Trustees Award. The Graduate Student awards went to three students, with two recipients from the Stevens community. Dr. Ziqian Dong, postdoctoral researcher in the Stevens Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, received an award for her work on Network Switch Architecture. Dr. Dipshikha Biswas, M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stevens, received an award for HIV Protease Inhibitors for Treatment of AIDS.
Michael Flowers, Principal and Chairman of Electric Mobility Corporation, received the Special Award for his Foldable Personal Mobility vehicle that caters to mobility-challenged customers. Mr. Flowers started his work in 1981 while working on the Electric Pedal Bicycle. "I realized that mobility-challenged customers were our major buyers," said Flowers. "Let's redesign the product without pedals, add a seat, more power, and stability." His breakthrough was the Cycle Chair. "Sales tripled overnight so we developed a smaller version, the Rascal." The Rascal model cemented the company's brand with strong sales and public appearances including a feature on the sitcom "Seinfeld," and in the movie "Mall Cop." Recently, the company has released a new power folding electric scooter named the, "Scooter to Walker." Flowers energetically demonstrated the scooter's capabilities while accepting his award. For the future, Flowers looks to release a patent-pending transport chair that can bend using power to aid wheelchair users and caregivers. "We are transporting the way people are transporting," said Flowers, "Aiding customers in their next stage of life."
Four Stevens researchers received the Inventor of the Year Award for their methods of preparing a surface-activated titanium oxide product for use in water treatment. The dynamic group consists of Dr. Christos Christodoulatos, Associate Provost for Academic Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Environmental Systems (CES), Dr. Xiaoguang Meng, Associate Professor at CES, Dr. George Korfiatis, Provost and University Vice President, and Dr. Mazakhir Dadachov, President and CEO of Corsuscular Inc. "I am dedicated to solving problems that have a social impact," said Dr. Christodoulatos. "Water is more precious than oil." The team's work led to the basis of Hydroglobe Corporation, later acquired by Graver Technologies. Their work continues to have noteworthy applications in environmental technologies. Dr. Christodoulatos recommends eager Stevens students to "think about making a broader impact."
The Trustees award went to Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ), Ph.D., a former physics professor who for nearly a decade served as Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Holt spent much of his career working on inventive and innovative activities and programs.
On behalf of Governor Corzine, Jack Donnelly presented the award recipients with letters of acknowledgement signed by the Governor. Donnelly spoke true to New Jersey's creativity and innovation with his unveiling of New Jersey Patent Bank Website, http://www.state.nj.us/patentbank/.
The NJIHOF was established in 1987. New Jersey stands as the only state to have its own Inventors Hall of Fame. Stevens became the NJIHOF's headquarters in 2008.
Specifically, Ms. Brill conceived a new rocket engine, the hydrazine resistojet, and she foresaw the inherent value and simplicity of using a single propellant. "At the time, the field was new and exciting," said Ms. Brill. "Space was an unclassified regime." Brill started her career in rockets on the top-secret project RAND at Douglas Aircraft in 1946. Her major breakthrough came in 1981 while working at RCA. Successful flight of the first Teflon Solid Propellant Propulsion System brought electric propulsion to an operational status in the United States. When asked about advice for ambitious inventors, Ms. Brill replied, "Just have faith in yourself."
Dr. Edward C. Taylor, Princeton University Professor Emeritus, spent most of his career seeking compounds that would disrupt folic acid processing in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Dr. Taylor's investigation gained ground with his Princeton team's 1985 discovery of the promising DDATHF molecule. His 1991 U.S. Patent of pemetrexed, the molecule that simultaneously targets and blocks three key folate-requiring enzymes needed for tumor growth. The Food and Drug Administration approved the molecule now referred to as Alimta after 13 years of tests and trials. Alimta stands as the only drug for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. Applications include treatment for those suffering from cancers caused by asbestos poisoning and lung cancers and trials are underway for the treatment of other cancers. By the end of 2008, Alimta stood as the most successful new cancer drug in history, based on sales. "This project is an example of purely academic research," said Taylor. "It has been fun."
In addition to inducting two Hall of Famers, the NJIHOF presented several distinct awards to outstanding New Jersey inventors. Honors were for the Graduate Student Award, Special Award, Advancement of Innovation Award, Innovator Award, Inventor of the Year, Corporate Award and the Trustees Award. The Graduate Student awards went to three students, with two recipients from the Stevens community. Dr. Ziqian Dong, postdoctoral researcher in the Stevens Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, received an award for her work on Network Switch Architecture. Dr. Dipshikha Biswas, M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stevens, received an award for HIV Protease Inhibitors for Treatment of AIDS.
Michael Flowers, Principal and Chairman of Electric Mobility Corporation, received the Special Award for his Foldable Personal Mobility vehicle that caters to mobility-challenged customers. Mr. Flowers started his work in 1981 while working on the Electric Pedal Bicycle. "I realized that mobility-challenged customers were our major buyers," said Flowers. "Let's redesign the product without pedals, add a seat, more power, and stability." His breakthrough was the Cycle Chair. "Sales tripled overnight so we developed a smaller version, the Rascal." The Rascal model cemented the company's brand with strong sales and public appearances including a feature on the sitcom "Seinfeld," and in the movie "Mall Cop." Recently, the company has released a new power folding electric scooter named the, "Scooter to Walker." Flowers energetically demonstrated the scooter's capabilities while accepting his award. For the future, Flowers looks to release a patent-pending transport chair that can bend using power to aid wheelchair users and caregivers. "We are transporting the way people are transporting," said Flowers, "Aiding customers in their next stage of life."
Four Stevens researchers received the Inventor of the Year Award for their methods of preparing a surface-activated titanium oxide product for use in water treatment. The dynamic group consists of Dr. Christos Christodoulatos, Associate Provost for Academic Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Environmental Systems (CES), Dr. Xiaoguang Meng, Associate Professor at CES, Dr. George Korfiatis, Provost and University Vice President, and Dr. Mazakhir Dadachov, President and CEO of Corsuscular Inc. "I am dedicated to solving problems that have a social impact," said Dr. Christodoulatos. "Water is more precious than oil." The team's work led to the basis of Hydroglobe Corporation, later acquired by Graver Technologies. Their work continues to have noteworthy applications in environmental technologies. Dr. Christodoulatos recommends eager Stevens students to "think about making a broader impact."
The Trustees award went to Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ), Ph.D., a former physics professor who for nearly a decade served as Assistant Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Holt spent much of his career working on inventive and innovative activities and programs.
On behalf of Governor Corzine, Jack Donnelly presented the award recipients with letters of acknowledgement signed by the Governor. Donnelly spoke true to New Jersey's creativity and innovation with his unveiling of New Jersey Patent Bank Website, http://www.state.nj.us/patentbank/.
The NJIHOF was established in 1987. New Jersey stands as the only state to have its own Inventors Hall of Fame. Stevens became the NJIHOF's headquarters in 2008.