A UF Professor Emeritus of Medicine and an Engineering Alumna Elected for Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

A University of Florida ophthalmology professor emeritus who has led a decades-long effort to reverse genetic forms of vision loss and an engineering alumna who is a pioneer in the semiconductor polishing industry are among 10 new members of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame announced.

William Hauswirth is being inducted for groundbreaking advancements in gene therapy, especially through pioneering the first gene therapy drug, Luxturna®, to treat both adults and children with inherited retinal disease, as well as his work restoring vision to the functionally blind.

Deepika Singh was co-founder and CEO of Sinmat, a company specializing in novel polishing processes for the semiconductor industry that are now used by leading global companies in the manufacturing of smartwatches, smartphones, electric vehicles, 5G communications infrastructure and advanced defense electronics.

David Norton, UF’s vice president for research, said Hauswirth and Singh “represent the best of the University of Florida.”

“They are at the cutting edge of their respective fields and they have been extremely successful at moving their research out of the laboratory and into the marketplace,” he said.

The 2023 inductees constitute the ninth class to be inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. They collectively hold more than 1,100 U.S. patents and come from across industry, academia, and government. Since its founding in 2013, the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame has inducted 68 inventors, who collectively hold over 5,100 U.S. patents.   

“With Florida consistently ranking in the top 10 for states with the most patents issued every year,” said Elizabeth Dougherty, the Eastern Regional Outreach Director for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. “It is an honor to join the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame in recognizing these outstanding Florida inventors and celebrating the journeys that each of them has taken to get to this point.” 

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