Power of Innovation: The Bayh-Dole Coalition’s Role in American Progress
Hong Hua
Hong Hua, Fellow of SPIE, OSA, and NAI (National Academy of Inventors), is currently the Jean M. Bennett Optica Endowed Chair Professor in Optical Sciences with the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, the University of Arizona.
She has 25+ years of experience in researching and developing wearable display technology for virtual and augmented reality applications.
Dr. Hua has been the Principal Investigator and Director of the 3D Visualization and Imaging Systems Laboratory (3DVIS Lab) at the University of Arizona.
After earning her doctorate in China, she moved to the U.S. as a postdoctoral researcher and soon secured a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to advance her research in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). This rare grant for a young scientist kickstarted her career.
At the University of Arizona, Hua worked on AR/VR technologies and collaborated with a neurologist to create a compact eye-tracking device for ALS patients. Her breakthrough came when she partnered with a startup called eSight, which aimed to restore vision for people with central vision loss. Using her research, they developed eSight 3 glasses, which correct impaired vision by capturing and projecting images tailored to the user’s needs. This invention has since changed the lives of thousands.
Hua’s success highlights the importance of federally funded research and patents, as these resources enabled her innovations to reach the market. Through the Bayh-Dole Act, her patents were licensed to companies like eSight, turning her ideas into practical solutions for those with vision impairments.
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About The Author
Angelina Kushnarova
Angelina Kushnarova (Sverediuk) was born in Ukraine. She graduated from Ternopil Medical University with a specialization in Medicine and completed an internship in Radiology at Lviv University. She worked as a Radiologist, while also working as a web developer.