Richard Bruce Silverman
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Richard Bruce Silverman (born May 12, 1946) is the Patrick G. Ryan/Aon Professor of Chemistry at
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...
. His group's main focus is basic and translational research into central nervous system disorders and cancer. He is known for the discovery of
pregabalin Pregabalin, sold under the brand name Lyrica among others, is an anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, opioid withdrawal and generalized anxiety diso ...
, which is marketed by
Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...
under the brand name Lyrica.


Education

Silverman attended Central High School of Philadelphia. Silverman received his B.S. in chemistry from Pennsylvania State University in 1968. He spent one semester at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
before being drafted and serving as a
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
Physical Sciences Assistant at the
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is the largest biomedical research facility administered by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The institute is centered at the Forest Glen Annex, in the Forest Glen Park part of the uni ...
from January 1969 until his honorable discharge in January 1971. In June 1974, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in
organic chemistry Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, ...
with advisor David Dolphin. He then spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow with Robert Abeles in biochemistry at
Brandeis University , mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = NECHE , president = Ronald D. Liebowitz , ...
.


Research

Silverman has been teaching and doing research at Northwestern since 1976. He became both Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology in 1986. He has held several named professorships. He was the Arthur Andersen Professor of Chemistry from 1988 to 1996, the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence from 2001 to 2003, and the John Evans Professor of Chemistry beginning from 2004 to 2015. He was named the inaugural Patrick G. Ryan/Aon Professor as of September 1, 2015. The primary focus in Silverman's laboratory is basic research into
central nervous system disorders Central nervous system diseases, also known as central nervous system disorders, are a group of neurological disorders that affect the structure or function of the brain or spinal cord, which collectively form the central nervous system (CNS). Th ...
, including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sens ...
,
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...
, Alzheimer's disease, and
epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of non-communicable neurological disorders characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures can vary from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking due to abnormal electrica ...
. Other research areas include cancer ( melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma), and bacterial infection. He has developed novel approaches to the elucidation of enzyme-catalyzed reactions in organic chemistry. He is interested in understanding and developing mechanisms of
enzyme inhibition An enzyme inhibitor is a molecule that binds to an enzyme and blocks its activity. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions necessary for life, in which substrate molecules are converted into products. An enzyme facilitates a sp ...
. Silverman has published over 385 research articles. He has been awarded 128 patents. He has written 3 books: ''Mechanism-Based Enzyme Inactivation: Chemistry and Enzymology'' (CRC Press; 1988), ''Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action'' (Academic Press; 1992, 2004, 2014), and ''Organic Chemistry of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions'' (Academic Press; 2000, 2002; see the Published works section, below). He is active on the editorial boards of a number of scholarly journals. Silverman is known for inventing the drug pregabalin as a possible treatment for
epileptic seizures An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much of the body with los ...
. During 1988-1990, Ryszard Andruszkiewicz, a visiting research fellow, synthesized a series of molecules for Silverman. One looked promising. The molecule was transported into the brain, where it activated the enzyme L-glutamate decarboxylase. Silverman anticipated that the enzyme would increase production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and block convulsions. Eventually, the set of molecules were sent to Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals for testing. In addition to treating seizures, pregabalin was found to be effective in treating fibromyalgia pain,
neuropathic pain Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage or disease affecting the somatosensory system. Neuropathic pain may be associated with abnormal sensations called dysesthesia or pain from normally non-painful stimuli (allodynia). It may have continuous ...
, and
generalized anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental and behavioral disorder, specifically an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about events or activities. Worry often interferes with daily function ...
. It was approved by the FDA in 2004 and marketed by
Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...
(which bought Parke-Davis) under the trade name Lyrica. Research has shown that the mechanism of the drug is more complicated than originally anticipated. In addition to its effects on GABA-AT substrate behavior, pregabalin binds to calcium channels and blocks glutamate release. GABA is potentiated, but through a different mechanism than originally suspected.


Awards and honors


Memberships

* 2014 Elected to the
American Academy of Arts & Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
* 2014 Fellow of the
National Academy of Inventors The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging inventors in academia, following the model of the National Academies of the United States. It was founded at the University of South Florida in 2010. ...
* 2013 Fellow of the
Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Royal Instit ...
* 2011 Fellow of the
American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) 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 155,000 members at all ...
* 1990 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science * 1985 Fellow of the
American Institute of Chemists The American Institute of Chemists (AIC) is an organization founded in 1923 with the goal of advancing the chemistry profession in the United States. The institute is known for its yearly awards recognizing contributions of individuals in this fi ...


Medals, Prizes

* 2021 Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry * 2017 Award for Creative Invention of the
American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) 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 155,000 members at all ...
* 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Pennsylvania State University * 2014 Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry Prize of the Israel Chemical Society * 2014 first recipient of the Northwestern University Trustee Medal for Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship * 2014 iCON Innovator Award of the iBIO Institute * 2013 Centenary Prize of the Royal Society of Chemistry * 2013 Bristol-Myers Squibb-Edward E. Smissman Award of the
American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) 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 155,000 members at all ...
* 2013 Roland T. Lakey Award from
Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 ...
* 2012 Sato Memorial International Award of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan * 2011 E.B. Hershberg Award for important discoveries in medicinally active substances from the American Chemical Society for the discovery of CPP-115 * 2011 inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame of Central High School of Philadelphia * 2009
Perkin Medal The Perkin Medal is an award given annually by the Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) to a scientist residing in America for an "innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development." It is considered the ...
from the American section of the Society of Chemical Industry * 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 * 1982-1987
National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health, commonly referred to as NIH (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in the late ...
Research Career Development award * 1981 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow * 1976 DuPont Young Faculty Fellow


Teaching awards

Silverman has received numerous teaching awards from Northwestern University, including the following: * 2001-2004 Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence * 2000 Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award * 1999 Excellence in Chemistry Education Award from the Northwestern University chapter of
Alpha Chi Sigma Alpha Chi Sigma () is a professional fraternity specializing in the fields of the chemical sciences. It has both collegiate and professional chapters throughout the United States consisting of both men and women and numbering more than 70,000 me ...
Chemistry Fraternity * 1999 E. LeRoy Hall Award for Teaching Excellence


Philanthropy

Lyrica royalties paid to Northwestern, and a gift from Silverman himself, have supported the Silverman Hall for Molecular Therapeutics and Diagnostics at Northwestern University. Silverman Hall, which opened in 2009, was designed to be a collaborative and interdisciplinary facility housing researchers from chemistry, biology, and engineering.


Published works


Books

* * * * * *


References


External links


Richard Silverman
at Northwestern University {{DEFAULTSORT:Silverman, Richard Bruce Living people 1946 births 21st-century American chemists Northwestern University faculty Harvard University alumni Fellows of the American Chemical Society Scientists from Philadelphia Central High School (Philadelphia) alumni Eberly College of Science alumni