Richard B. Silverman elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Richard SilvermanProfessor Richard Silverman, best known for his invention of the drug Lyrica (pregabalin).

Professor Richard B. Silverman, of the Department of Chemistry, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), according to the Academy’s announcement on May 2nd. Silverman is the Patrick G. Ryan/Aon Professor at Northwestern.

Silverman’s research is focused primarily on the design, evaluation, synthesis, and mechanism of enzyme inhibitors. He is arguably best known for his invention of LyricaTM (pregabalin), marketed worldwide by Pfizer for the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and (in Europe) for generalized anxiety disorder. In 2019, he founded AKAVA Therapeutics, LLC, whose mission is to “discover and develop first-in-class inhibition therapeutics addressing unmet medical needs in neurodegeneration and oncology, allowing patients to live longer with improved quality of life.”

The NAS is a private, non-profit society of scholars charged with providing independent and objective advice to the U.S. government on matters related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. This year, 120 members and 23 international members were elected.

Read more about the NAS, and Silverman’s research.