By Blake Jackson
Cornell professors Herb Aldwinckle and Ulrich Wiesner have been elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) for their groundbreaking work in strengthening food crops against pests and diseases and developing hybrid materials for applications such as cancer therapeutics. They are part of the 2024 class of fellows announced on December 10.
Paul Sanberg, president of the NAI, commended the 2024 class, stating, "Each of these individuals are tackling real-world issues and creating solutions that propel us into the future. Through their work, they are making significant contributions to science, creating lasting societal impact, and growing the economy."
Aldwinckle, a professor emeritus in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), has spent his career improving plant disease management.
Aldwinckle recent research focuses on hybridization techniques to strengthen plant varieties against diseases like fire blight.
In collaboration with other geneticists, Aldwinckle developed crossbreeding methods for apple rootstocks, enhancing their resistance to this destructive disease.
Additionally, Aldwinckle has worked on encoding transgenes in plants to deter insect pests such as psyllids, which can carry harmful microbes.
Aldwinckle invention allows for enhanced protection against these pests in crops like sweet oranges, tomatoes, and potatoes.
"I would like to acknowledge the close and generous collaboration I have had throughout my career at Cornell with my colleagues, Jim Cummins, emeritus professor of pomology (CALS), Gennaro Fazio, adjunct associate professor of horticulture (CALS), and Terence Robinson, professor of horticulture (CALS)," said Aldwinckle. "I’d also like to recognize the invaluable role that the Center for Technology Licensing at Cornell has played in the successful commercial implementation of our technologies for the benefit of apple growers and consumers in the United States and elsewhere."
Wiesner, the Spencer T. Olin Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, focuses on creating multifunctional nanomaterials.
Wiesner work on fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles, known as C’Dots, is advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment. Wiesner is also a co-founder of startups pushing C’Dots into clinical trials.
"I very much appreciate the honor to be elected Fellow of the NAI. Since coming here I got more and more interested in having real-world impact beyond academic paper writing and Cornell provided ample opportunity with its growing support infrastructure to make that happen," said Wiesner.
Aldwinckle and Wiesner will be honored at the NAI Annual Meeting on June 26 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo Credit: cornell-university
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