UMSL Chancellor Tom George (left) and Nasser Arshadi (right), vice provost for research at UMSL, present an inventors induction certificate to James Bashkin, professor of chemistry at UMSL. (Photo by August Jennewein)

For James Bashkin, one of the driving forces behind his inventions is saving people’s lives.

Bashkin, a professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is the co-founder of NanoVir, a company that is working to develop antiviral drugs for the human papillomavirus or HPV, the chief cause of cervical cancer.

Bashkin, along with more than 30 faculty, staff and students at UMSL were recently inducted into the new campus chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. The organization was established to honor academic invention, recognize and encourage inventors and enhance the visibility of university technology and innovation.

“It’s nice to get a chance to get together with scientists and people from other fields who are inventors,” he said. “It’s nice to have a local forum where we can get together.”

Bashkin has 10 issued U.S. patents.

Individuals were inducted in two categories: Inventor members and honorary members. Inventor members are individuals listed as an inventor on an issued patent. Honorary members are individuals recognized for their support and commitment to advancing technological development and innovation, retired faculty listed on an issued patent, and those listed as inventors on a pending U.S. patent application.

“I think this is a neat thing for the campus because it kind of showcases some of the things that are going on here, that I think sometimes get lost,” said Carl Bassi, associate professor of optometry at UMSL.

He helped invent the Quantitative Three Dot Test, a handheld device to better measure visual suppression.

So, what does it feel like to have your name on a patent? “Oh, I think it’s the coolest thing,” he said.

“It’s an honor, but it represents a lot of work,” Bassi said. “This didn’t happen overnight. This was over a number of years of working together. It’s not just an individual. There’s a team working there.”

Bassi has two issued U.S. patents and one pending. One of his inventions was recently licensed to a Missouri startup company, Q3D Visual Diagnostics LLC.

“Getting a patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office is an independent confirmation of what we’re doing in this area,” said UMSL Chancellor Tom George, who was inducted as an honorary member.

The ceremony was well attended, with some former faculty members coming in from out of town.

“You have developed an incredibly rich array of technologies that will help improve lives,” Nasser Arshadi, vice provost for research at UMSL, told the inductees.

INVENTOR MEMBERS:

1. James K. Bashkin, D.Phil., professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2. Carl Bassi, Ph.D., associate professor and Director of Research and Graduate Studies, College of Optometry
3. George Gokel, Ph.D., distinguished professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; director, Center for Nanoscience
4. Peter H. Handel, Ph.D., professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
5. George D. Harris, Jr., Ph.D., research assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
6. Wesley Harris, Ph.D., professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
7. Michael Howe, senior research engineering technician, College of Optometry
8. Kevin Koeller, Ph.D., research assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
9. Jingyue (Jimmy) Liu, Ph.D., adjunct professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UMSL; professor, Department of Physics, senior scholar, The Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University
10. Mark Lodes, UMSL student – senior, political science, pre-law
11. Eric Majzoub, Ph.D. , associate professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy; associate director, Center for Nanoscience
12. Raymond I. Myers, O.D., clinical professor, College of Optometry
13. Martin Pelikan, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; director, Missouri Estimation of Distribution Algorithms Laboratory
14. Christopher Spilling, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
15. John Walker, Ph.D., director, Medicinal Chemistry Group, Center for Nanoscience
16. Xuemin (Sam) Wang, Ph.D., E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor, Department of Biology, UMSL; member, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
17. Zhi Xu, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; associate director for translational research, Center for Nanoscience

HONORARY MEMBERS:

1. Surendra Dawadi, graduate student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2. Alexei V. Demchenko, Ph.D., professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
3. Wayne Garver, lecturer (retired), Department of Physics & Astronomy
4. Thomas F. George, Ph.D., chancellor, professor, departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Physics and Astronomy
5. Bruce Hamper, Ph.D., assistant teaching professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
6. David W. Larsen, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
7. Haitao Li, Ph.D., assistant professor, Logistics and Operations Management Area
8. Maoyin Li, Ph.D., assistant research professor, Department of Biology
9. Timothy Mason, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate, Center for Nanoscience
10. Michael F. Nichols, Ph.D., vice president for research and economic development for the University of Missouri System
11. Michael Nichols, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
12. Geeta Paranjape, graduate student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
13. Joseph J. Parks, M.D., distinguished research professor, UMSL; director, Missouri Institute of Mental Health
14. Mahesh Paudyal, graduate student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
15. Robert Paul, Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychology
16. Keith J. Stine, Ph.D., professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
17. Shana Terrill, graduate student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
18. Geliang Wang, Ph.D., post doctoral associate (research), Department of Biology
19. Timothy M. Wolfe, president, University of Missouri System
20. Chung F. Wong, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry