Richard Axel

Discovered a technique of cotransformation, a process which allows foreign DNA to be inserted into a host cell to produce certain proteins. Patents were filed. These are are known as the "Axel patents". Used by lots of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Made a pile of money for Columbia; up to $100m per year at one time. These expired in August 2000. Boo.

Won a Nobel Prize in 2004.