Prof. Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Hussam Hayek of the Technion, and Prof. Yaakov Nachmias of the Hebrew University were inducted into the ranks of the National Academy of Inventors, in recognition of academic inventions with scientific, social, and economic impact.
Three Israeli researchers have been inducted into the ranks of fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in the United States: Prof. Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Hussam Hayek of the Technion, and Prof. Yaakov Nachmias of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. All three are included in the list of NAI Fellows for 2025, who were sworn in at the Academy’s 15th Annual Conference on June 4, 2026 in Los Angeles. (NAI)
NAI Fellow status is considered a particularly high professional honor for academic inventors. According to the academy, it is awarded to researchers whose inventions, patents registered in their names, and activities in transferring knowledge from academia to industry have contributed to a tangible impact on the quality of life, the economy, and society. The academy's website states that it currently includes 2,253 fellows.
Between a laboratory, a patent, and a commercial company
The selection of the three researchers highlights an area in which Israeli research has been prominent in recent years: the transition from basic academic research to the development of medical and biotechnological technologies. The three researchers work in different fields, but all operate at the intersection of engineering, medicine, patents, and startups.
Prof. Tal Dvir, from the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University, is one of the world's leading researchers in the field of tissue and organ engineering. His research has included printing heart tissue, developing personalized implants, and using tissue engineering to repair nerve injuries. One of the technologies developed in his lab is advancing toward clinical trials in the field of engineered spinal cord implants for people with paralysis.
Prof. Hussam Hayek, from the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technion, has developed technologies for identifying molecular signatures of respiratory and skin diseases. His work has contributed to the development of rapid and non-invasive diagnostic systems, smart sensing patches for remote medicine, and molecular sensing and imaging technologies for early detection of diseases. Hayek holds dozens of patents, founded startups, and published hundreds of scientific articles in the fields of sensing, volatile biomarkers, and medical diagnostics.
Prof. Yaakov Nachmias, of the Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University, is a pioneer in the field of organs-on-a-chip and biotechnological engineering. He is the director of the Grass Center for Biotechnological Engineering at the Hebrew University and co-founder of BioDesign Israel. His research has helped develop human-on-a-chip systems for disease modeling, toxicity testing, drug development, and personalized medicine. Nachmias has also founded several biotech companies, including Tissue Dynamics, Believer Meats, ATIUM Biologics, and Phase 0 Labs.
Recognizing the importance of academic invention
The National Academy of Inventors was founded in 2010 to highlight the contributions of inventors working in universities, research institutes, and public bodies. Alongside scientific recognition, its main emphasis is on patents, technology commercialization, and influence outside the walls of academia. (NJIT Research Fellowship)
In the Israeli case, the choice of Dvir, Hayek, and Nahmias reflects the place of local biomedical innovation: not only publishing articles, but also building technological platforms, founding companies, registering patents, and transferring knowledge for medical and industrial use. It is also a reminder that scientific impact is today measured not only in academic citations, but also in the ability to transform a research idea into a diagnostic tool, an implant, a testing system, or a technology that can ultimately reach patients, doctors, and industry.
Short FAQ:
What is the National Academy of Inventors?
The National Academy of Inventors is an American organization that recognizes academic inventors and their contributions to patents, knowledge commercialization, and social and economic impact.
Who are the Israeli researchers who were added this year?
Prof. Tal Dvir from Tel Aviv University, Prof. Hussam Hayek from the Technion and Prof. Yaakov Nachmias from the Hebrew University.
What does NAI Fellow status mean?
This is a status honoring academic inventors whose inventions and patents have influenced science, society, and industry.
What fields do the three researchers work in?
Dvir works in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, Hayek in medical diagnostics and molecular sensors, and Nahmias in organs-on-a-chip and biotechnology.
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