KU’s inventive minds shine

Faculty earn prestigious NAI honors

At the KU Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC), we take pride in recognizing KU inventors whose groundbreaking technologies make a global impact, strengthen communities and improve lives. Recently, with the support of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), we had the opportunity to spotlight two distinguished KU researchers: Ron Barrett-Gonzalez and Stefan Bossmann.

Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, professor of aerospace engineering, was named an NAI Fellow, joining an elite group of 170 academic inventors recognized this year. Stefan Bossmann, professor and chair of cancer biology at the KU Medical Center, was selected for the 2025 class of NAI Senior Members, an honor recognizing accomplished inventors with a proven track record of impactful innovation.

Advancing aerospace innovation

Barrett-Gonzalez leads KU’s Adaptive Aerostructures & Aircraft Design Laboratories, where he and his team focus on designing, researching, developing and flight-testing a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — from hovering drones to hypersonic aircraft. His lab pioneered QuadRockets, the world's fastest micro quadcopters, which are capable of reaching speeds of up to 130 mph.

A prolific inventor, Barrett-Gonzalez has disclosed more than 38 inventions to KUCTC and holds 23 issued utility and design patents, many of which include student co-inventors. Reflecting on his experience working with KUCTC, he shared, “They make the patenting and licensing process easy for inventors like me.”

Innovating cancer treatment

Bossmann’s research at KU Medical Center focuses on developing small-molecule cancer therapies and using nanotechnology to deliver these treatments precisely to tumors while avoiding healthy tissue. He describes this work as his “gift-wrapping business,” designing nanoscale delivery systems that package and transport drugs directly to their intended targets.

One of his current projects, in collaboration with Dr. Tomoo Iwakuma at Children’s Mercy, aims to develop a molecule that binds to defective p53 proteins — critical tumor suppressors that, when mutated, can contribute to cancer development.

On receiving the NAI Senior Member distinction, Bossmann remarked, “Becoming a senior NAI member means my work as an inventor over the last 30 years is being recognized. I am proud to be a Jayhawk. The KU Cancer Center, in conjunction with the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation, is the ideal environment to quickly translate novel medical technologies. Nothing makes me happier than providing our cancer patients with access to innovative liquid biopsies, drug delivery, or imaging methods.”

Recognizing KU’s inventors

Cliff Michaels, executive director of KUCTC, led the team facilitating the NAI nominations and emphasized the significance of these honors: “As KU’s technology transfer office, we were pleased to nominate Dr. Barrett-Gonzalez and Dr. Bossmann for these prestigious recognitions.”

We congratulate both inventors on their well-deserved achievements!