ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico. December 10, 2024 – Angela Wandinger-Ness of the University of New Mexico has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the organization announced on December 10th, 2024.
NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors and this year’s class is comprised of 170 exceptional individuals. The full list of 2024 Fellows can be found here.
The 2024 cohort of Fellows exemplifies the Academy’s belief that groundbreaking innovation knows no bounds and inventors can be found everywhere. This is evident in the fact that the honorees represent 39 U.S. states, 12 countries, and 43% identify as underrepresented inventors.
The 2024 Fellows hail from 135 research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide and their work spans across various disciplines. They are not only phenomenal researchers holding prestigious honors and distinctions such as the Nobel Prize, U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and National Medal of Science, and membership to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, but are also incredible inventors who collectively hold over 5,000 issued U.S. patents and whose innovations are making significant tangible societal and economic impacts today and will well into the future.
“This year’s Class of NAI Fellows represents a truly impressive caliber of inventors. Each of 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,” said Dr. Paul Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI. “NAI Fellows as a whole are a driving force of innovation, generating crucial advancements across scientific disciplines and creating tangible impacts as they move their technologies from lab to marketplace. We are excited to welcome and honor this newest Class of Fellows during our 2025 Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I can think of no better group that exemplifies our conference theme, Forward Together: Innovating with Purpose.”
Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 68,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and generated 1.2 million jobs. The 2024 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 14th Annual Meeting on June 26th, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Angela Wandinger-Ness, PhD
Dr. Angela Wandinger-Ness is a distinguished researcher and innovator with extensive expertise in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, and cancer biology. She joined the faculty in the Department of Pathology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in 1998 and was the Victor and Ruby Hansen Surface Endowed Professor in Cancer Cell Biology and Clinical Translation; promoted to rank of Distinguished Professor in 2022 in the Department of Pathology; and served as Associate Director for Education, Training, and Mentoring at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Her work primarily focuses on studying Rab and Rho-family GTPases, exploring their roles in disease pathology and their potential as therapeutic targets. Notably, her lab has identified Rac and Cdc42 as key biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer, with broader implications for breast, colon, and head and neck cancers. Dr. Wandinger-Ness has led groundbreaking high-throughput screening projects, discovering novel small molecule inhibitors for Rho and Ras GTPases, which have inspired clinical trials and revealed new insights into cancer treatment. Her research also investigates how tumor cells utilize specialized niches to survive and relapse, further advancing cancer biology.
In addition to her research, Dr. Wandinger-Ness is a passionate educator and mentor. She has developed innovative teaching strategies and training programs that have significantly impacted students at all levels, from high school to post-doctoral fellows. Through her leadership in programs like the CURE Native American Student Training Program and as the Associate Director for Education and Mentoring at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, she fosters the next generation of scientists, particularly from underrepresented groups in STEM. Her contributions to science and education have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Mentor Award from the AAAS and the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.
The UNM Rainforest Innovations Board of Directors nominated Dr. Wandinger-Ness for the national honor. The Board Chair, Sandra Begay stated: “In 2019, we first recognized Dr. Wandinger-Ness as a Rainforest Innovation Fellow based on her groundbreaking research on Rab and Rho-family GTPases and role as an outstanding educator and mentor. The UNMRI Board of Directors believed that Dr. Wandinger-Ness’ accomplishments made her an outstanding candidate for the National Academy of Inventors, and so we nominated her. We are absolutely delighted she was chosen as part of the 2024 class.”