Ohio State University has awarded its top honors to three individuals who have driven groundbreaking work in their respective fields. At the forefront is Professor Sanjay Krishna, named the 2025 Innovator of the Year for his influential work in infrared technology. In an overview of his work, Krishna humbly acknowledged the honor, stating, "It's really humbling to be named Ohio State Innovator of the Year. It really captures the sense of what I'm trying to do," in a statement obtained by OSU News. He also emphasized the collective effort behind his success, crediting his academic colleagues, students, and family members.
As the George R. Smith Chair in the College of Engineering, Krishna's contributions mainly lie in developing next-generation infrared detectors, arrays, and imagers, which have potential applications in defense and the aerospace industry. With decades of effort submerged beneath the proverbial iceberg of success, Krishna accepted the award by expressing gratitude for the many individuals contributing to the innovation journey. Krishna is also the co-founder and CTO of SK Infrared, a startup leveraging this tech commercially.
Joining Krishna in celebration of innovation are Eduardo Reátegui and Ian Harris, who've been honored as the Early Career and Next Generation Innovators of the Year, respectively. Reátegui, an associate professor engaging with high-throughput sorting and molecular profiling technologies, told OSU News, "This is a deep honor for me and particularly for the past and current members of my lab." His lab aims to develop devices that could substantially improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
Meanwhile, the ambitious undergraduate, working toward an impressive constellation of degrees in aerospace engineering, astrophysics, astronomy, physics, nuclear engineering, and mathematics, Ian Harris was named Next Generation Innovator of the Year. Harris also co-founds SPAERO Systems, which focuses on developing sustainable technologies for space and is commencing his doctoral studies in nuclear engineering at Ohio State. "It's been a very exciting journey," Harris said, celebrating the collaborative spirit of innovation in an interview with OSU News.
In addition to these recognitions, Executive Vice President Peter J. Mohler shared significant updates from Ohio State's research and innovation sector. One notable advancement is a newly discovered oral drug targeting cancer by obstructing a key enzyme involved in tumor growth. Having been in development with NIH support, the drug, licensed by Jabez Biosciences, saw its first human dosing during a Phase 1 clinical study at Ohio State's facilities. The event also featured talks from various innovators and researchers, focusing on the robust academic environment essential for transformative breakthroughs, as elucidated by Professor Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin during his spotlight on The Quantum Revolution.
