Richard Bruce Silverman
Encyclopedia
Richard Bruce Silverman is a chemistry
professor
at Northwestern University
in the United States
. He currently holds the title of "John Evans Professor of Chemistry
". He is most known for his invention of pregabalin
, which is now marketed by Pfizer
under the trade name Lyrica.
Silverman was awarded the 2009 Perkin Medal
for his "outstanding work in applied chemistry". Other notable external awards he has received include the 2011 E.B. Hershberg Award for important discoveries in medicinally active substances from the American Chemical Society
, 2011 inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame of Central High School of Philadelphia, 2009 inductee into the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame of the American Chemical Society, 2008 Alumni Fellow Award from the Pennsylvania State University
, 2003 Arthur C. Cope
Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society, 1990 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, 1985 Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists
, 1982 National Institutes of Health
Research Career Development award, 1981 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Fellow, and 1976 DuPont
Young Faculty Fellow. He has received numerous teaching awards from Northwestern University, including being named Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence in 2001-2004, Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award in 2000, Excellence in Chemistry Education Award from the Northwestern University Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma
Chemistry Fraternity in 1999, the E. LeRoy Hall Award for Teaching Excellence in 1999, Faculty Honor Roll in 1977-1982, 1986, 1997, 2008, 2009.
in 1968. He then spent a short time at Harvard University
before being drafted and serving as a United States Army
Physical Sciences Assistant at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
from January 1969 until his honorable discharge in January 1971. In 1974, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard in organic chemistry
with advisor David Dolphin
. He then spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow with Robert Abeles in biochemistry at Brandeis University
. He has been teaching at Northwestern since 1976 and has held his current title of "John Evans Professor of Chemistry" since September 1, 2004.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He currently holds the title of "John Evans Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
". He is most known for his invention of pregabalin
Pregabalin
Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant drug used for neuropathic pain and as an adjunct therapy for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in adults. It has also been found effective for generalized anxiety disorder and is approved for this use in the European Union. It was designed...
, which is now marketed by Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
under the trade name Lyrica.
Silverman was awarded the 2009 Perkin Medal
Perkin Medal
The Perkin Medal is an award given annually by the American section of the Society of Chemical Industry to a scientist residing in America for an "innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development." It is considered the highest honor given in the US industrial chemical...
for his "outstanding work in applied chemistry". Other notable external awards he has received include the 2011 E.B. Hershberg Award for important discoveries in medicinally active substances from the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
, 2011 inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame of Central High School of Philadelphia, 2009 inductee into the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame of the American Chemical Society, 2008 Alumni Fellow Award from the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, 2003 Arthur C. Cope
Arthur C. Cope
Arthur C. Cope was a highly successful and influential organic chemist and member of the National Academy of Sciences. He is credited with the development of several important chemical reactions which bear his name including the Cope elimination and the Cope rearrangement.Cope was born on June...
Scholar Award of the American Chemical Society, 1990 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, 1985 Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists
American Institute of Chemists
The American Institute of Chemists is an organization founded in 1923 whose goal is to advance the chemical profession in the United States. The institute is known for its yearly awards recognizing contributions of individuals in this field of work. The American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal is...
, 1982 National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
Research Career Development award, 1981 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
Fellow, and 1976 DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
Young Faculty Fellow. He has received numerous teaching awards from Northwestern University, including being named Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence in 2001-2004, Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award in 2000, Excellence in Chemistry Education Award from the Northwestern University Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma
Alpha Chi Sigma
Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional fraternity specializing in the field of chemistry. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 63,400 members...
Chemistry Fraternity in 1999, the E. LeRoy Hall Award for Teaching Excellence in 1999, Faculty Honor Roll in 1977-1982, 1986, 1997, 2008, 2009.
Education
He received his B.S. in chemistry from Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1968. He then spent a short time at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
before being drafted and serving as a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Physical Sciences Assistant at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
This article is about the U.S. Army medical research institute . Otherwise, see Walter Reed .The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is the largest biomedical research facility administered by the U.S. Department of Defense...
from January 1969 until his honorable discharge in January 1971. In 1974, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
with advisor David Dolphin
David Dolphin
David H. Dolphin, OC, FRS, FRSC is a Canadian biochemist.He is an internationally recognized expert in porphyrin chemistry and biochemistry...
. He then spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow with Robert Abeles in biochemistry at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. He has been teaching at Northwestern since 1976 and has held his current title of "John Evans Professor of Chemistry" since September 1, 2004.