Sheba and Puliyar Mohankumar selected as National Academy of Inventors Senior Members
Sheba and Puliyar Mohankumar selected as National Academy of Inventors Senior Members
Originally posted by UGA Research, written by Melania Pacheco
Distinction recognizes researchers for patented discoveries and entrepreneurial efforts
The National Academy of Inventors has selected six University of Georgia researchers as 2026 NAI Senior Members, underscoring the university’s strong momentum in innovation and commercialization, including Sheba Mohankumar, BVSc, MS, PhD, and Puliyur MohanKumar, BVSc, PhD, who both teach in the online Master of Science (M.S.) in Comparative Biomedical Sciences program. With these latest elections, UGA now has 30 Senior Members overall.
“We are proud to recognize the UGA faculty researchers elected this year as NAI Senior Members,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “This honor reflects not only the strength and depth of research at UGA but also our faculty’s commitment to translating discoveries beyond the lab to create meaningful impact in the world. Their work exemplifies how innovation, scholarship and service come together to advance our land-grant mission and improve lives in Georgia and beyond.”
NAI Senior Members are distinguished faculty, scientists and administrators who have demonstrated success in patents, licensing and commercialization. The distinction recognizes those whose patented discoveries and entrepreneurial efforts have made, or have the potential to make, meaningful impacts on society. They develop and translate technologies that address critical challenges in health, energy, sustainability and industry, advancing both research and real-world applications.
UGA’s 2026 inductees are:
- Daniel Geller, director of the Innovation Gateway Startup Program and senior public service associate in the College of Engineering
- Puliyur S. MohanKumar, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine
- Sheba M.J. MohanKumar, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine
- Branson W. Ritchie, Distinguished Research Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and co-director of the New Materials Institute
- Nadja Zeltner, associate professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Molecular Medicine
- Yiping Zhao, Distinguished Research Professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Puliyur MohanKumar is an internationally recognized leader in neuroendocrinology and translational biomedical research. He is a named inventor on two issued U.S. patents and co-founder of S.G. Endocrine Research, where he advances nanoparticle-based technologies for brain imaging, cancer treatment and non-surgical sterilization in animals. The company is pursuing veterinary regulatory registration in India with plans to launch its first product in 2026. In 2023, MohanKumar was named UGA’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
Sheba MohanKumar’s research integrates neuroendocrinology, immunology and molecular biology to address long-term health outcomes linked to environmental exposures. She is a named inventor on two issued U.S. patents and co-founder of S.G. Endocrine Research, where she leads regulatory strategy and scientific execution for nanoparticle-based sterilization technologies. Her non-surgical sterilization platform has the potential to significantly reduce pet overpopulation and transform veterinary practice. MohanKumar also played a foundational role in developing UGA’s online master’s program in comparative biomedical sciences.
NAI Senior Members will be formally inducted on June 3 at the organization’s annual meeting. A full list of Senior Members is available on the NAI website.