Morgan State University Advances Annual Patent Output Becoming Fertile Hub for Innovation and Invention

University Granted 10 Utility Patents in 2025 Furthering its Position as a Top Producer Among HBCUs and One of the Nation’s Fastest Rising Research Institutions

Baltimore — As Maryland’s designated preeminent public urban research university, Morgan State University continues to transform its research, scientific discovery and technical ideas into inventions that connect communities, address societal challenges and improve lives. In 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued Morgan 10 utility patents, bringing its total number to 49 in all. This past year’s activity marks the second most patents granted in a single year, further solidifying Morgan among the nation’s top patent producing Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs). In 2023, the University logged a record year with 13 utility patents issued while becoming the only HBCU listed among the National Academy of Inventors’ Top 100 U.S. Universities Granted Utility Patents.

“The continued growth in patents produced at Morgan reflects the depth of our scholarly excellence and the enduring commitment of our faculty, researchers, and students to advancing knowledge with purpose,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “As we rise as a leading patent producer, Morgan embraces its responsibility to steward innovation in service to the public good—ensuring that discovery is not only protected, but also shared in ways that enrich communities, improve quality of life, and inspire future generations of scholars and inventors.” 

Morgan State University | Division of Research and Economic Development | Office of Technology Transfer

The University was granted U.S. patents in a wide array of cutting-edge fields, showcasing its commitment to innovation and impactful research. These patents span emerging technologies in engineering, computing, life sciences, unmanned vehicle operations, and materials science. These innovations demonstrate the university's strength in advancing interdisciplinary research and its role in addressing real-world challenges across technology, security, sustainability, and health.

Of the 10 most recently issued utility patents, most have come from the Clarence J. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering (SOE) and the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (SCMNS). One faculty member whose research contributed to three of these patents is Kevin Kornegay, Ph.D., director of the Cybersecurity Assurance and Policy (CAP) Center. Dr. Kornegay’s work includes developing computer-implemented methods to improve the safety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), detecting replay attacks on autonomous navigation systems, and advancing solutions for continuously monitored Internet of Things (IoT) systems. During his tenure at Morgan, he has been granted a total of five patents.

Another notable patent achievement came from Arlene Cole-Rhodes, Ph.D., associate dean for Graduate Studies in the School of Engineering and professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Along with graduate student Greig Richmond, she received a patent for developing a compact multi-scale method for restoring and deblurring images. Their work also disclosed systems and methods for detecting both the occurrence and type of driver distraction by evaluating sensed vehicle conditions and activities—such as steering, braking, and lane changes—captured through one or more onboard sensors. Once distraction is identified, the system can trigger actions such as issuing an audible or visual alert, limiting operation of the distracting device, logging the event, or reporting it to an outside monitoring party, including a guardian, insurer, or law enforcement authority.