Professor

Richard Bruce Silverman

Northwestern University
Chemist; Inventor; Educator
Area
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Specialty
Chemistry
Elected
2014
Contributions to organic and medicinal chemistry led to the discovery and invention of the drug Lyrica, the first FDA-approved treatment for fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and postherpetic neuralgia. Lyrica, developed from early research, made an enormous impact by alleviating nerve pain, and is among the most successful CNS drugs. Invented a drug for epilepsy that has successfully completed Phase I clinical trials and is being used to treat a boy with infantile spasms. Designed the first selective inactivator of ornithine aminotransferase for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, currently in IND-enabling studies. Designed and synthesized the first potent and highly selective inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase to lower brain NO, known to correlate with neurodegenerative disease; effective in a rabbit model for cerebral palsy. Discovered first-in-class CaV1.3-selective calcium channel antagonists for treatment of Parkinson's disease. Designed, developed, and synthesized compounds to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that inhibit protein aggregation and toxicity of mutant superoxide dismutase associated with the disease; effective in an ALS mouse model.
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