The University of Georgia is ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide for the number of U.S. utility patents granted in 2015, according to a list released last week by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

The list, based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, recognizes the important role patents play in facilitating the movement of university research discoveries into the marketplace.

The UGA patents issued in 2015 included those covering a potential therapeutic for the gastrointestinal infection Cryptosporidiosis, a candidate antiviral therapeutic for hepatitis B, a wound healing product, engineered bacterial strains that facilitate biofuel production, and novel phosphors that may be used in multiple industrial applications, including the production of enhanced LED lighting.

"Being ranked among the top universities in the world underscores the innovative research being conducted by UGA faculty, staff and students and also highlights our robust technology transfer program," said Derek Eberhart, director of UGA's Innovation Gateway in the Office of the Vice President for Research. "Commercialization of university research to improve lives and promote economic development is integral to UGA's land-grant mission."

UGA has more than 500 active patents protecting its inventions, which have helped support the development of over 575 new products and the creation of more than 140 companies based on UGA research discoveries.