VIMM Member update
:
Dr. Swadesh K. Das elected as a NAI (National Academy of Inventors) senior member
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is a nonprofit organization that enhances the visibility of academic technology and innovation as a means to ultimately benefit society. Dr. Swadesh K. Das, Assistant Professor and Graduate Faculty in the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Member of VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) and Associate Member of Massey Cancer Center (MCC) was recently selected as a NAI Senior Member. This is a national recognition of achievement of Dr. Das’ patent(s), licensing and commercialization of technologies. Dr. Das is among 116 recognized members under this category. He is one of the four senior NAI members at VCU. The NAI Senior member program, which is completely distinct from the “National fellows”, was initially launched in 2018 aiming to “identify and recognize early stage innovators and inventors whose patents have the potential to bring real impact on society”. This membership will provide him an access to a global network of the top academic innovators and inventors, mentorship opportunities and he will be serving on various NAI-committees.
Dr. Das’ research work spans diversified yet overlapping areas of cancer biology. It includes molecular targeting, drug discovery and cancer diagnosis. Dr. Das is a key author on many publications that have advanced the scientific knowledge and contributed to the work of others. He is actively collaborating with many members of VIMM and MCC including Dr. Paul B. Fisher, Chairman, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and Director of VIMM, Dr. Luni Emdad, Dr. Devanand Sarkar, Dr. Xiang-Yang Wang and others.
Dr. Das’ inventions focus on understanding cancer metastasis and developing targeted therapeutics. Currently, Dr. Das is recognized as an inventor(s) on five issued patents and 6 patent applications, which are currently under review. In addition, Dr. Das’ research work has generated numerous invention disclosures with strong potential to be patented in the future. It is worth noting that Dr. Das and colleagues are credited with discovery of a new
first-in-class
anti-invasive molecularly targeted small molecule. This molecule has strong potential to serve as an “anti-metastatic” drug, targeting multiple cancer indications, and is now being licensed to InVaMet Therapeutics (IVMT), Inc. Currently, Dr. Das is leading a sponsored research agreement (SRA) between VCU and IVMT for defining new classes of PDZ inhibitors and seeking the most appropriate combinatorial therapeutic regimens for obtaining maximum potential clinical efficacy. Overall, Dr. Das and his colleagues' innovation covers both early diagnostic approaches and development of anti-metastatic targeted molecules with potential to contribute to improving a patient’s quality of life. The technologies that Dr. Das is working on may culminate in a paradigm shift in cancer therapy and how metastatic disease is clinically managed in the future.
