Two UC Irvine professors have been named as National Academy of Inventors fellows for their innovations that benefit society.

Philip Felgner, a professor of physiology and biophysics, pioneered a technology used in developing messenger RNA vaccines to help prevent a range of diseases, including COVID-19 and HIV. The approach may also be applicable to treating cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and genetic disorders such as sickle cell disease.

Payam Heydari, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, leads a research group that has made groundbreaking discoveries in the design of radio frequency, millimeter wave and terahertz integrated microchips.

The NAI fellows program is the organization’s highest professional distinction awarded solely to academic inventors. UCI now has 16 NAI fellows.