February 2, 2010 — The University of Virginia Patent Foundation is now seeking nominations for the 2010 Edlich-Henderson Inventor of the Year.

The award recognizes an inventor or team of inventors each year whose technology has proven to be of notable value to society. Winners receive a $10,000 cash prize and formal recognition at the Patent Foundation's annual awards reception, to be held April 5 at the Rotunda.

The award is named for Dr. Richard F. Edlich, professor emeritus of plastic surgery and biomedical engineering at U.Va., and Christopher J. Henderson, president and chief financial officer of Robbins & Henderson, LLC, and a longtime supporter of faculty inventors.

Eligible nominees must be current U.Va. faculty, staff or students; must hold an issued and non-expired U.S. patent or copyright on their technology; and must have invented a technology that is, in the opinion of the nominator, of high value to society.

To make a nomination, send an e-mail or letter of support identifying the nominee(s) and addressing the criteria to the U.Va. Patent Foundation by March 1. Nominations should be sent via e-mail (preferred) to patents@virginia.edu or by mail to:

University of Virginia Patent Foundation
P.O. Box 800755
250 W. Main St., Ste. 300
Charlottesville VA 22902

For information, e-mail patents@virginia.edu or call 434-924-2175.

Past winners of the Edlich-Henderson Inventor of the Year Award include:

2009 John P. Mugler III, James R. Brookeman
2008 George T. Rodeheaver
2007 Wladek Minor
2006 George T. Gillies
2005 Dr. Benjamin M. Gaston, Dr. John F. Hunt
2004 Haydn N.G. Wadley
2003 Dr. William A. Petri Jr., Barbara J. Mann
2002 Joel M. Linden
2001 Doris Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf
2000 Ronald P. Taylor
1999 John C. Herr
1997 Dr. Richard L. Guerrant, Timothy L. Macdonald
1996 Jessica J. Brand, Patrice G. Guyenet, Dr. Richard D. Pearson, Janine C. Jagger
1995 Donald F. Hunt, Jeffrey Shabanowitz, George C. Stafford Jr.
1994 Dr. Gerald L. Mandell, Gail W. Sullivan
1993 Dr. Joseph Larner
1992 Dr. Robert M. Berne, Dr. Luiz Belardinelli, Rafael Rubio

About the University of Virginia Patent Foundation

The University of Virginia Patent Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that serves to bring U.Va. technologies to the global marketplace by evaluating, protecting and licensing intellectual property generated in the course of research at U.Va. The Patent Foundation reviews and evaluates nearly 200 inventions per year and has generated approximately $85 million in licensing revenue since its formation in 1977. For more: www.uvapf.org.