UTSA helps UT System rank no. 3 on Top 100 list for utility patents

APRIL 25, 2025 — The University of Texas System (UT System) claimed third place in a recent ranking by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking scores all U.S. universities and consortia according to the number of U.S. utility patents an organization received in the prior year. NAI produces the list annually to recognize the significance of patents as a measure of innovation and an indicator of successful transfer of technology from academia into the global market.

“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI president. “Ensuring the security of intellectual property through patenting is a crucial component to this and allows those innovations to be effectively moved to market where they can create valuable societal and economic impact. The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.” 

The combined patents across the UT System totaled 234 in 2024. The network of universities has held third place since the inaugural 2022 ranking.

“The UT System provides a unique and expansive environment for interdisciplinary research and invention that addresses the grand challenges in the world today.”

“The UT System provides a unique and expansive environment for interdisciplinary research and invention that addresses the grand challenges in the world today. It shines a spotlight on the incredible talent we have across Texas,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, interim vice president for research at UTSA and senior vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio. “I’m proud to be part of a community that values and uplifts its researchers, enabling us to achieve this prestigious ranking year after year.”

Among last year’s new patent holders is Stanton F. McHardy, UTSA associate professor of medicinal chemistry and director of the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD). McHardy and his team secured a patent for a new formula of ammonium compounds designed to function as antimicrobial agents. The compounds disrupt bacterial cell membranes and may be able to interfere with intracellular processes, allowing them to treat bacterial infections and even modulate the microbiome.

“Infectious diseases are currently the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the threat is growing with the emergence of bacterial resistance to many antibiotics,” McHardy said. “This multifaceted issue requires sophisticated tools for clinicians to successfully confront. I’m hopeful that the formula our team designed will make a significant impact in both treatment and prevention of acute infection in patients.”

McHardy’s research focuses on various drug discovery approaches to neurological diseases, infectious diseases, non-opioid pain and cancer. His accomplished career as a researcher and inventor received recent recognition when he was named NAI Fellow in 2024.

The Top 100 U.S. Universities List is one of three rankings published annually by the NAI. These rankings are based on calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and aim to provide a comprehensive view of intellectual property protection in the innovation ecosystem. The UT System ranked no. 6 on the Top 100 Worldwide Universities List for 2024, which was published last month.

The Top 60 Non-Profit Research Institutions and Government Agencies rankings will be released this spring leading up to NAI’s 14th Annual Conference held in Atlanta.

UTSA is a Tier One research institution advancing knowledge through discovery, innovation and collaboration. With more than $173 million in annual research expenditures, the university is home to a thriving research ecosystem that brings together faculty, students and industry partners across disciplines to tackle society’s most pressing challenges.

Researchers at UTSA from a range of disciplines advance invention and commercialization, working closely with strategic partners from government, industry and academia. For example, biomedical researchers from UTSA and Southwest Research Institute are collaborating to design military helmet pads to more effectively prevent traumatic brain injury for service members. Another interdisciplinary team at UTSA is using audio feedback and virtual reality to treat balance impairments. Last year, faculty researcher and musician Steven Parker was granted a Fullbright scholarship to invent novel musical instruments. Meanwhile, space engineering researcher Alan Whittington and his team are learning how to melt the soil on the moon to make the building blocks needed to construct launch pads and other structures on the moon.

— Audrey Gray