Dr. Luiz Meirelles, a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, has received recognition for his contributions to dental technology and biomedical innovation.

Ohio State named Dr. Meirelles its Innovator of the Year — an award reserved for faculty whose inventions move from the laboratory into actual public use. Separately, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) inducted him into its 2026 Class of Senior Members, an honor recognizing inventors whose patented work delivers meaningful benefit to society. This year's class includes 230 inventors from institutions around the world.

The back-to-back recognition reflects a body of work with tangible clinical reach. Dr. Meirelles developed advanced implant surface systems that have now been used in more than 300,000 patients globally, along with next-generation digital platforms designed to enable precise, non-invasive surgical monitoring.

Before joining Ohio State in 2018, Dr. Meirelles served as Director of Product Evaluations at the ADA Science Institute, where he helped shape research priorities and industry partnerships across the country.

The dual recognition places him among a short list of dental academicians whose work has crossed over from academic research into widespread clinical application — exactly the kind of translational impact both honors are designed to celebrate.

Source: The Ohio State University College of Dentistry — dentistry.osu.edu