Two faculty members from the University of California, Los Angeles have been elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), joining more than 30 other UCLA researchers who have previously received this honor. The new inductees are Maher El-Kady, recognized for his work on sustainable energy solutions, and Dr. Dennis Slamon, known for his innovations in breast cancer treatment.
According to Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI, “NAI fellows are a driving force within the innovation ecosystem, and their contributions across scientific disciplines are shaping the future of our world. We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of fellows to the academy. They are truly an impressive cohort.”
El-Kady is an assistant researcher in UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research focuses on developing advanced energy storage technologies that aim to be efficient, affordable, safe, and sustainable. As a graduate student at UCLA in 2013, El-Kady collaborated with Professor Richard Kaner to create laser-scribed graphene using a standard DVD burner—a process that led to advances in micro-supercapacitors.
His work has expanded into areas such as wearable technology, consumer electronics, health care devices, and electric vehicles. Innovations include a biological supercapacitor powered by bodily electrolytes for medical implants; solar-powered hydrogen fuel production; a motion sensor and power generator for firefighter safety; and devices generating electricity from falling snow.
El-Kady co-founded Nanotech Energy in 2014 with Kaner to commercialize these innovations. He serves as chief technology officer at the company, which won an Innovation Award at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2022 for its Organolyte graphene-based batteries featuring nonflammable electrolyte technology.
He has also contributed to improving electroconductive plastics used in touch screens and solar cells and is researching zinc-based batteries as alternatives to lithium-ion systems. For his achievements, El-Kady was named one of Chemical & Engineering News’ “Talented Twelve” in 2022 and received other industry awards.
Dr. Dennis Slamon is professor and chief of hematology–oncology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and director of clinical and translational research at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Slamon’s research led to Herceptin (trastuzumab), a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998 after clinical trials at UCLA beginning in 1990.
Slamon’s approach emphasized targeting genetic mutations rather than tumor locations—a philosophy that predated widespread adoption of precision medicine strategies. Since its approval, Herceptin has been used by nearly 3.5 million women worldwide with ongoing studies showing it increases survival rates by over 50%. Each year about 340,000 women globally receive diagnoses suitable for Herceptin treatment.
Beyond Herceptin, Slamon helped develop palbociclib (approved by FDA in 2015) for advanced ER-positive breast cancer subtypes and ribociclib (approved in 2024) for early-stage HR-positive cases. His work also influenced development of additional targeted therapies such as Tukysa, Nerlynx, Tykerb, and Avastin by other researchers.
Slamon has received several prestigious honors including the Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award; Szent-Györgyi Prize from the National Foundation for Cancer Research; Sjöberg Prize from Sweden’s Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; American Cancer Society Medal of Honor; Canada Gairdner International Award; as well as memberships in major scientific societies.
El-Kady and Slamon are among 169 U.S.-based fellows representing universities or research institutions across 40 states elected this year along with international colleagues from outside the United States. The NAI will hold its medal ceremony honoring new fellows in June 2026 in Los Angeles.
