National Academy of Inventors inducts two University of Arizona professors
College of Engineering experts Mario Romero-Ortega and Marwan Krunz join the elite rank of inventors.
Mario Romero-Ortega, department head and professor of biomedical engineering, and Marwan Krunz, Regents Professor of electrical and computer engineering, join NAI’s 2026 Senior Member class.
The National Academy of Inventors named Marwan Krunz, Regents Professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Mario Romero-Ortega, biomedical engineering professor and department head, as Senior Members of its 2026 class.
NAI will induct Krunz and Romero-Ortega at its annual conference in Los Angeles on June 4. They join more than 50 University of Arizona faculty named NAI Senior Members and Fellows.
“It’s innovators like these that take their research to the next step, demonstrating meaningful impact in the world,” said Doug Hockstad, associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona. “We appreciate their dedication and look forward to working with them to move many more of their innovations out into the marketplace.”
Senior Member status honors active members with an exceptional record of patents and discoveries that improve society’s welfare.
Marwan Krunz secures wireless networks
Krunz, the Edward and Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair, co-invented 10 patents that strengthen wireless networks with efficient resource allocation, protocol design and secure communication.
Raytheon, an RTX Business, licensed three of those patents. Startups FreeFall Aerospace and the Electronic Design and Development Corporation also licensed patents to develop FreeFall 5G, a joint venture that accelerates commercialization of advanced 5G antenna systems.
The fifth-generation mobile network is designed to be 100 times faster than the 4G network.
As principal investigator of the Secure, Pervasive, Efficient, and Resilient Next G Networks NSF center, Krunz studies how artificial intelligence integrates with 6G – also called Next G – wireless communication. Each generation advances speed and security for everyday users while meeting growing energy and defense demands.
Krunz also founded SmartNet Communications to commercialize AI-based solutions for adaptive wireless protocols.
“Being named an NAI Senior Member is a tremendous honor that highlights the incredible, collaborative innovation ecosystem here at the University of Arizona,” he said. “I look forward to continuing my work with Tech Launch Arizona to turn tomorrow's engineering challenges into transformative, real-world solutions.”
Mario Romero-Ortega heals nerves
Romero-Ortega holds seven patents, with six more pending. His inventions use electrical stimulation to repair nerve damage, connect prosthetics to the nervous system and treat a range of illnesses.
One patent outlines an implant that treats stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
“This technology, which is moving on to clinical trials next, could help millions of people,” Romero-Ortega said. “It’s another example of how vital research funding is in helping improve lives.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, SUI is common in women but often goes unreported to physicians, and up to 75% of women over 65 have trouble controlling their bladder.
The implantable device, called a NeuroClip, attaches directly to a pelvic nerve and sends electrical pulses to activate the muscles responsible for bladder control.
“The stimulation from the pulses overcomes the injury to the nerves and muscles from stretching, working as restorative therapy,” he said.
The National Institutes of Health funded the initial development of both devices. Juniper Biomedical, a startup Romero-Ortega co-founded, is commercializing the NeuroClip therapy device. The company won second place and $1.6 million in the NIH Neuromod Prize competition.
