ASBMB Annual Meeting

Richard Silverman to speak at ASBMB 2025

The chemist will cover drug discovery, enzyme inhibition and CNS and cancer therapies
Nicole Lynn
March 27, 2025

Richard B. Silverman, a distinguished chemist and the Patrick G. Ryan/Aon Professor at Northwestern University, will be a featured speaker at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting, presenting his research in enzyme inhibition and drug discovery. Best known for inventing pregabalin, or Lyrica, Silverman has dedicated his research to designing small molecules to treat central nervous system, or CNS, disorders, including epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease as well as cancer.

Richard Silverman
Richard Silverman

At ASBMB 2025, he will discuss his new work on the mechanistic drug design of small molecules to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Silverman earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1974 after a two-year interruption to serve in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, for which he received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted postdoctoral research at Brandeis University under Robert H. Abeles, focusing on enzyme inactivation.

In 1976, Silverman joined Northwestern University, where he was a professor of chemistry, molecular biosciences and pharmacology. His research centers on designing and developing enzyme inhibitors for CNS disorders and cancer to develop new therapeutics.

His most notable discovery, pregabalin, or Lyrica, is widely used to treat fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, seizures and anxiety. Pregabalin works by targeting a calcium channel receptor within the CNS and decreasing neuronal excitability. Silverman donated a part of the royalties from Lyrica to Northwestern University to support and promote collaborative and interdisciplinary research in molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.

With more than 400 research publications, nearly 150 patents and multiple international awards, Silverman’s contributions to organic chemistry and drug design have been recognized worldwide. His books on enzyme mechanisms and drug design are widely used in academia and industry.

Silverman has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors, the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame and the Royal Society of Chemistry and has won many awards including, the Perkin Medal, the Arthur C. Cope Senior Scholar Award, the Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, the Centenary Prize and the Abeles and Jencks Award for Chemistry of Biological Processes. He is a fellow of the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

At ASBMB 2025, Silverman will present his latest research on the rational design and mechanisms of small molecules that target two enzymes: gamma-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase, as a treatment for epilepsy and neuropathic pain, and ornithine aminotransferase to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.

Pregabalin targets calcium gated ion channels in the central nervous system and reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release. This image shows a glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, being transported by synaptic vesicles for release. This process is controlled by calcium gated ion channels.
Pregabalin targets calcium gated ion channels in the central nervous system and reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release. This image shows a glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, being transported by synaptic vesicles for release. This process is controlled by calcium gated ion channels.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Nicole Lynn

Nicole Lynn holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and is an ASBMB Today volunteer contributor.

Featured jobs

from the ASBMB career center

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Women’s History Month: Educating and inspiring generations
Observance

Women’s History Month: Educating and inspiring generations

March 27, 2025

Through early classroom experiences, undergraduate education and advanced research training, women leaders are shaping a more inclusive and supportive scientific community.

ASBMB honors Lawrence Tabak with public service award
Award

ASBMB honors Lawrence Tabak with public service award

March 26, 2025

He will deliver prerecorded remarks at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting in Chicago.

ASBMB names 2025 JBC/Tabor Award winners
Award

ASBMB names 2025 JBC/Tabor Award winners

March 24, 2025

The six awardees are first authors of outstanding papers published in 2024 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Daniel N. Hebert (1962–2024)
Retrospective

Daniel N. Hebert (1962–2024)

March 17, 2025

Daniel Hebert’s colleagues remember the passionate glycobiologistscientist, caring mentor and kind friend.

In memoriam: Daniel N. Hebert
In Memoriam

In memoriam: Daniel N. Hebert

March 17, 2025

He was a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who discovered the glycan code that facilitates protein folding, maturation and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Meet Robert Helsley
Interview

Meet Robert Helsley

March 6, 2025

The Journal of Lipid Research junior associate editor studies chronic liver disease and was the first in his family to attend college.