Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources strengthened its record of research innovation in 2025, accounting for four of the 15 patents awarded to the university and helping propel the Texas Tech University System into the upper ranks of a national measure of academic inventiveness.
‘Davis College faculty’s interdisciplinary partnerships and commitment to practical solutions have increased the university's patent output and real-world impact. I’m proud of their dedication and contributions.’
The patents, issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reflect a range of advances spanning biomaterials, food science and animal health. Together, they underscore a broader institutional push to translate laboratory discoveries into commercially viable technologies.
Among those recognized was Noureddine Abidi, associate dean for research, whose work focuses on the dissolution of cellulose in ionic liquids – a process with implications for sustainable materials and manufacturing. Brendan Kelly, an associate professor in the Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute, was awarded a patent for a system designed to generate randomly aligned fiber structures used in object evaluation.
Two additional patents highlighted applied innovations in food and animal sciences. John McGlone, an emeritus professor in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences, was cited for developing a multi-sensory enrichment system that allows animals to self-administer health products. Richard Meyer, an adjunct professor, received recognition for a high-moisture, all-natural food product engineered for shelf stability.
The collective output contributed to the Texas Tech System’s placement for the fourth consecutive year on the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents list compiled by the National Academy of Inventors. The system rose to No. 70 in the latest rankings, improving three positions from the previous year after first appearing on the list in 2022.
“Davis College faculty’s interdisciplinary partnerships and commitment to practical solutions have increased the university's patent output and real-world impact,” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel. “I’m proud of their dedication and contributions to Texas Tech's success.”
Published annually, the ranking highlights universities that play a significant role in advancing innovation by securing intellectual property and moving discoveries toward real-world application. The emphasis, officials say, is not only on the quantity of patents but on their potential societal and economic impact.
“Our continued improvement in the annual NAI ranking reflects the innovative work of our researchers, who are translating research outcomes into technologies that benefit the public,” said Joseph Heppert, Texas Tech’s vice president for research and innovation.
In a statement accompanying the rankings, Paul Sanberg, president of the National Academy of Inventors, said such institutions are central to maintaining the nation’s competitive edge. By bringing ideas to market and protecting them through patents, he said, universities are helping shape the future of global innovation.
Davis College’s contributions to that effort extend beyond individual patents. The college has established a notable presence within the academy itself. In 2024, Abidi was named a senior member of the organization, a distinction awarded to emerging leaders with a track record in patents, licensing and commercialization.
Other faculty members recognized as fellows of the academy include John McGlone, honored in 2020; Luis Herrera-Estrella, a president’s distinguished professor of plant genomics, in 2019; Samuel Prien, a professor of reproductive physiology, in 2021; and Mindy Brashears, a Horn Professor, in 2016.
CONTACT: Noureddine Abidi, Texas Tech Interim Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation and Associate Dean for Research, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or noureddine.abidi@ttu.edu
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