NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – For a third consecutive year, the University of Oklahoma has been ranked in the Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents by the National Academy of Inventors. OU continues to be the only university in Oklahoma to be recognized, highlighting its commitment to innovation and corporate partnerships.
“To remain ranked among the nation’s top universities for utility patents reinforces OU’s commitment to technology commercialization and our drive to move translational research into the marketplace,” said Michael Schade, interim chief innovation officer and interim executive director of the Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships. “These patents, disclosures, and startups represent OICP’s, OU’s, and our researchers’ driven focus to provide impactful innovation that will help shape tomorrow’s future.”
In fiscal year 2024, 18 OU faculty across the university’s three campuses received 29 U.S. and foreign patents. Thus far in FY25, 34 OU inventors have been issued 11 U.S. utility patents and 12 foreign patents. These accomplishments stem from goals defined in OU’s Lead On, University Strategic Plan. These efforts include simplifying intellectual property options for corporate-sponsored research and establishing the iPath program for OU innovators.
Additionally, OU is having a record-breaking year for disclosures, the first step toward technology commercialization. For FY25, OU researchers have filed 61 disclosures. Likewise, four faculty members are developing spin-off organizations based on their OU intellectual property, a milestone achievement for the university.
“In the ever-evolving innovation landscape, it is imperative that the U.S. is remaining competitive and at the forefront of today’s emerging research and technologies,” said Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI. “The Top 100 U.S. list celebrates U.S. universities and their inventive staff and faculty for their dedication in ensuring their innovations and IP are protected.”
NAI’s Top 100 lists are created using calendar year data provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The top 100 placements include all named assignees listed on the patent. View the complete list of Top 100 U.S. Universities.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The Hudson Fellows in Public Health Program – a select group of doctoral students at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health – will observe its 10th anniversary on April 9 with the annual Hudson Fellows Symposium. The event will feature a noontime lecture by health innovation leader Vivian S. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., MBA.
New research from University of Oklahoma researchers, published in Cell Reports, reveals that a hormone that reverses obesity in mice appears to work by signaling to a brain region involved in metabolism and appetite regulation, the same area targeted by the popular GLP-1 drugs.
The University of Oklahoma’s Max Westheimer Airport has received the prestigious Airport of the Year Award for 2026 from the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association. Airport Director Lance Lamkin was also named the 2026 Airport Manager of the Year.
