Excellence at scale: Purdue ranks seventh nationally for U.S. patents received 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An innovation to detect heart rate, respiration and oxygen saturation. A method to fabricate vertically aligned nanocomposites. A portable method to detect and quantify Delta 9 THC. A protein-based adhesive. 

These were among the 172 innovations created by Purdue University researchers for which the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) received patents in the 2025 calendar year from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting Purdue’s status as a global leader in protecting and promoting intellectual property. 

Purdue placed seventh nationally and 12th internationally for patents received. The information was published Thursday (Feb. 12) in a report from the National Academy of Inventors. 

“Purdue and its robust innovation ecosystem continue to pursue excellence at the highest scale, reflected in our ranking as a top 10 university for U.S. patents received for six years in a row,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “Purdue Innovates accelerates support for Boilermaker inventors as they translate breakthrough research into real‑world impact, with outstanding support from the Office of Technology Commercialization.”

The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) offers services that support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property.

“Through Purdue Innovates, PRF is committed to ensuring that the university’s innovators, whether faculty, staff or students, have the support they need to bring their ideas from the lab to the marketplace,” said Chad Pittman, president and CEO of PRF. “By helping transform breakthrough research into innovative products and startups, we advance Purdue’s mission while strengthening economic growth and improving quality of life in Indiana and beyond.”

Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, said, “Purdue’s continued leadership in issued U.S. patents is a testament to the strength of our innovation ecosystem. Through Purdue Innovates, we provide end-to-end support — protecting intellectual property, forging industry partnerships and identifying the right commercialization pathways to bring Purdue technologies to market.”

Ken Waite, chief patent counsel and director of intellectual property, said, “Our team takes very seriously its role to protect Purdue intellectual property. This work impacts OTC’s central mission, which is sharing innovations so Purdue inventions can impact the world.”

The 2025 issued patents included:

• “Method for Directing Cell Adhesion and Growth Using Ultrathin Striped Molecular Films” by Shelley Claridge, College of Science and College of Engineering
• “Microscope Mounting System for Cutting and Testing of Soft Materials” by Chelsea Davis, College of Engineering
• “Methods and Platforms for Sustainable High-Yield Terpenoid Production” by Natalia Doudareva, College of Agriculture
• “Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Antibiotics Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria” by Daniel Flaherty, College of Pharmacy
• “3-Dimensional Tissue-Engineered Muscle for Tissue Restoration” by Sherry Harbin, College of Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine
• “Inhibitors for Protein N-Terminal Methyltransferable and Uses Thereof” by Rong Huang, College of Pharmacy
• “Apparatuses and Methods for Merging Ion Beams” by Julia Laskin, College of Science
• “Methods for Detecting Heart Rate, Respiration, and Oxygen Saturation and Uses Thereof” by Jacqueline Linnes, College of Engineering
• “Protein-Based Adhesive and Its Modification” by Julie Liu, College of Engineering
• “Adenoviral Vector System for Gene Delivery” by Suresh Mittal, College of Veterinary Medicine
• “Magnetorheological Fluid Cell Systems and Methods” by Mo Rastgaar, Polytechnic Institute
• “Metallic Bone Measurement System and Method” by Aaron Specht, College of Health and Human Sciences
• “Portable Detection and Quantification Method for Delta 9 THC” by Charles Steele, Purdue Northwest
• “Method of Fabricating Metal-Nitride Vertically Aligned Nanocomposites” by Haiyan Wang, College of Engineering
• “Optical Quantum Logic for Use in Large Operational Spaces” and “Spectral Compression System and Methods of Using Same” by Andrew Weiner, College of Engineering, awarded posthumously

In the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from July 2024 to June 2025, the Office of Technology Commercialization:

• Received 479 total disclosures from Purdue innovators: 437 invention disclosures and 42 copyright disclosures
• Filed 863 patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and international patent organizations
• Received 267 U.S. and international patents
• Executed 161 licenses and options
• Helped establish 18 startup companies

About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2025, the office reported 161 deals executed with 269 technologies licensed, 479 invention disclosures received and 267 U.S. and international patents received. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.