By Donald Zuhn --
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced today that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez joined President Bush last week in identifying the winners of the 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The award, previously known as the National Medal of Technology, is the highest honor that the President can bestow on American innovators for technological achievement, and is administered by the Patent Office. The 2007 laureates will receive their medals in a ceremony at the White House on September 29.
Among the 2007 recipients of the National Medal is Dr. Roscoe O. Brady (at left), a Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health. According to the Department of Commerce release, Dr. Brady's discovery of the enzymatic defects in hereditary metabolic disorders such as Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Fabry disease, and Tay-Sachs disease, led to the development of a highly effective enzyme replacement therapy to treat patients with many hereditary enzyme-deficiency disorders.
Also receiving the National Medal will be Dr. Adam Heller (at right), a Research Professor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering. According to the Department of Commerce release, Dr. Heller's contributions to electrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry led to the development of products that have improved the quality of life of millions, particularly in the area of human health and well-being. Dr. Heller is a named inventor on nearly 100 U.S. patents.
Four other individuals and two corporations will receive medals in September.
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