WYNNEWOOD, PA — George Prendergast, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a distinction that recognizes his role in turning academic research into commercially relevant medical innovation.
Prendergast is among 185 U.S. and international inventors named to the National Academy of Inventors’ 2025 class. Fellowship in the academy is the highest professional honor awarded exclusively to inventors and is reserved for individuals whose work has translated research discoveries into real-world impact.
During his 21-year tenure leading Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, part of Main Line Health, Prendergast has pushed an operating model that deliberately links academic science with invention and commercialization. He coined the term “ACAPRENEURIAL” to describe the hybrid approach, which blends traditional research with entrepreneurial execution.
“Going against nonprofit research norms with an approach linking research and invention has been the biggest experiment of my life,” Prendergast said. He credited the recognition to the scientists and inventors who have worked alongside him at the institute.
Under his leadership, LIMR has increased the pace of patenting experimental devices, diagnostics, and therapies, particularly in cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. The institute has also expanded its academic output, publishing more peer-reviewed research than at any point in its history while simultaneously advancing clinical tools aimed at improving patient care.
The broader 2025 class of National Academy of Inventors Fellows collectively holds more than 5,300 U.S. patents and includes recipients of the Nobel Prize and National Medals of Science and Technology & Innovation. The U.S.-based Fellows represent 127 universities, government agencies, and research institutions across 40 states.
Prendergast will be formally honored June 4 in Los Angeles during the academy’s annual conference, where medals will be presented by a senior official from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
An experienced cancer researcher with a background spanning academia and the pharmaceutical industry, Prendergast is known for his work in cancer biology, molecular therapeutics, and immune-based treatments. His research has contributed to the development of IDO inhibitors, a class of drugs designed to improve immune response and treatment outcomes in cancer therapies.
Over his career, Prendergast has authored more than 180 scientific publications and is an inventor or co-inventor on 50 published or pending patents, underscoring his dual influence in both scientific discovery and applied medical innovation.
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