Two University of Michigan faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.

Robert Bartlett, professor emeritus of surgery at the Medical School, and Zhen Xu, professor of biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering and professor of radiology and neurosurgery at the Medical School, were elected this month to the academy.

Bartlett and Xu were nominated for being innovative researchers with extensive work translating discoveries into new products and technologies that are addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges.

“This recognition is a testament to the profound impact Dr. Bartlett and Dr. Xu have had on improving health care and transforming patient lives,” said Kelly Sexton, U-M associate vice president for research, innovation partnerships and economic impact.

“Their groundbreaking innovations—from lifesaving technology to the development of histotripsy for cancer treatment—exemplify how academic research can directly address critical health care challenges and enhance quality of life worldwide.”

Bartlett developed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, an advanced technology that provides cardiac and respiratory support to a patient whose heart and lungs are not able to provide adequate gas exchange to sustain life. He also has made major contributions in the areas of critical care physiology, acute kidney injury and continuous hemofiltration.

Xu and her colleagues invented histotripsy, a technique for treating cancer that uses sound waves to break down tumors, which has since developed into a new field studied at multiple institutions.

Her team’s work ultimately led to U-M startup HistoSonics, which last year received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Edison device to treat liver tumors. The technology is currently undergoing testing in other treatment areas. Xu and the University of Michigan have a financial interest in HistoSonics.

The Office of the Vice President for Research awarded Xu and her team the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award in 2023.

The NAI Fellows Program was established to celebrate academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating innovations that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

To be inducted into the program, a fellow must first be nominated by their peers. They must also be a named inventor on a patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and affiliated with a university, nonprofit research institute or other academic entity. The nominations are reviewed by a committee who invite the nominee to join the next class.

“This year’s class of NAI Fellows represents a truly impressive caliber of inventors. Each of these individuals are tackling real-world issues and creating solutions that propel us into the future,” said Paul Sanberg, the academy’s president. “Through their work, they are making significant contributions to science, creating lasting societal impact and growing the economy.

“NAI Fellows as a whole are a driving force of innovation, generating crucial advancements across scientific disciplines and creating tangible impacts as they move their technologies from lab to marketplace.”

Since 2013, 15 University of Michigan faculty members have been named NAI Fellows. U-M President Santa J. Ono also received the honor through the University of British Columbia in 2013.