MU's Randall Prather joins National Academy of Inventors 2022 Fellows Program
Randall Prather, who works with genetically-modified pigs as the director of the National Swine Research Center at the University of Missouri, is now a National Academy of Inventors fellow.
Prather is a Curator's Distinguished Professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
When surgeons in Maryland successfully transplanted a pig heart into a human patient in January, a gene edit developed in Prather's lab was used.
“Some of our patents have furthered efforts related to xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting animal organs or tissues into human recipients,” Prather said in a news release.. “This is important because there are currently more than 100,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list, mostly waiting for kidney transplants and some for heart transplants. There are others who would benefit from a transplant but currently are not eligible, so pigs can be a great resource going forward.”
Because of the demand for genetically-modified pigs, the swine center received an $8 million National Institutes of Health grant to expand.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be named a NAI Fellow,” Prather said in the release. “It is a nice recognition to have, especially with MU being a member of the Association of American Universities, and I think it also represents not just me but all my collaborators and team members that have contributed to our research efforts over the years.”
The NAI Fellows Program includes academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in developing inventions that make a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.
Prather is a perfect choice, said Shibu Jose, associate dean for the CAFNR Office of Research, in the news release.
“Dr. Prather is very deserving of this special honor,” Jose said.“His innovative research with genetically modified pigs has enabled investigators around the world to study potential therapies and treatments for diseases that impact humans.”
Past NAI fellows at MU include Hongbin "Bill" Ma, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor.
There were 169 inventors named to the 2022 class of fellows.
Prather has been issued 21 patents in the U.S. and has 56 international patents in his 33-year career at MU.
He's proud of his work and the difference it makes, he said.
“Our goal is to provide resources and knowledge so that others can be successful in helping people,” Prather said. “Our work is a part of medical solutions for people. We are just one step in the journey, and it is satisfying to be a part of it.”
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Randall Prather is among 2022 National Academy of Inventors fellows
