Halas, West are State Bar Inventors of the Year

Rice University researchers Naomi Halas and Jennifer West have been named Inventors of the Year by the State Bar of Texas for their patented process to use light-activated gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy.

	NAOMI HALAS		JENNIFER WEST

The process uses near-infrared lasers to heat gold nanoshells at the tumor site, which destroys the tumor while leaving healthy tissue unaffected.

The technique is in human trials through Houston-based Nanospectra Biosciences Inc., a company founded on the basis of the technology patented by Rice.

Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of physics, chemistry and biomedical engineering, and West is the Isabel C. Cameron Professor, department chair for bioengineering and professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering.

“It has been highly gratifying to see our discovery move from the research laboratory into the commercial sector, where it is now helping cancer patients,” West said.

West and Halas are the first women to win the award, which has been presented since 1983. Theirs is also the first nanotechnology-based invention to win. According to a State Bar official, it is unusual for a winning invention to come from outside the electronics and petrochemical fields.

The Rice professors will be honored during the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section luncheon during the organization’s annual meeting June 11 in Fort Worth. The award consists of a commendation by Gov. Rick Perry and a commemorative clock.