Science
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
“Lyrica? That’s Ancient History. What Have You Done Lately?”
Rick Silverman
This lecture will highlight some of the research activities in the laboratory of Professor Silverman over the last 15 years, which are currently ongoing. Most of the research relates to the design and mechanism of therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative or neurological diseases, but two of the projects have also led to potential therapeutics for cancer as well. Potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma will be discussed from a lay person perspective. No exam will be given, so sit back and enjoy.
Speakers

Rick Silverman
- John Evans Professor of Chemistry
- Professor, Chemistry, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences

Milan Mrksich, PhD
- NU Vice President for Research
- Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Biomedical Engineering
- Professor of Chemistry
- Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
- Founding Director NU Center for Synthetic Biology
- Associate Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Resources
Suggested Readings
- Article - CaV1.3-selective L-type calcium channel antagonists as potential new therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease (Nature Communications)
- Article - The 2011 E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances: (1S,3S)-3-Amino-4- difluoromethylenyl-1-cyclopentanoic Acid (CPP-115), a GABA Aminotransferase Inactivator and New Treatment for Drug Addiction and Infantile Spasms (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry)