WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) successfully launched three advanced experimental payloads aboard the Department of War (DoW) Space Test Program’s (STP) Satellite-7 mission at approximately 4:33 a.m. PDT on April 7 from Vandenberg U.S. Space Force (USSF) Base, Calif.

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a nonprofit member organization that promotes academic technology and innovation, has named four Keck School of Medicine of USC faculty as new senior members: Paula Cannon, PhD; Alan Epstein, MD, PhD; Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD; and Bodour Salhia, PhD.

The new senior members will be welcomed at the 2026 NAI conference, hosted by USC at Loews Hollywood Hotel from June 1 to 4.

NAI senior members are recognized for their work producing innovative technologies that have the potential for real impact on the welfare of society, as well as success in patents, licensing and commercialization. This year’s members from the Keck School of Medicine are being recognized for their innovations in cancer and HIV.

A team of researchers led by Duke Health have now reached a major milestone in a national effort to develop a new kind of treatment aimed at helping the body repair damaged joints at the source, bringing the approach closer to first‑in‑human clinical trials and accelerating momentum toward a potential commercially availble therapy.