Mark S. Humayun

Mark S. Humayun is a Pakistani-American ophthalmologist, engineer, scientist, inventor and academic – the only ophthalmologist elected a member of both U.S. National Academies of Medicine and Engineering. He is a university professor with joint appointments at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

In 2011, Humayun was elected as a member into the National Academy of Engineering for contributions to development and clinical implementation of the visual prosthesis for restoration of sight.

Humayun was named a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2015 and received the award from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016. The award recognizes "those who have made lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation’s technological workforce." Humayun co-invented the Argus Series retina implants, which are manufactured by Second Sight, and are intended to restore sight to the blind. The Argus Series implants were named by Time Magazine among the top 10 inventions of 2013.

He has more than 100 patents and patent applications, and was nominated by R&D Magazine as Innovator of the Year in 2005. He was recently nominated to the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors.

Humayun was named director of the USC Institute of Biomedical Therapeutics (IBT) in 2012, director of the National Science Foundation BioMimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center, and director of the Department of Energy Artificial Retina Project. He was also inaugural director of the USC Eye Institute and interim chair of the USC Department of Ophthalmology. Provided by Wikipedia