Dr. Vasu Nair Honored for Research Excellence by AACP
Writers: Rebecca Morgan, 703-739-2330, ext. 1025, rmorgan@aacp.org
Sheila Roberson, 706-542-5303, roberson@rx.uga.edu
Contact: Vasu Nair, 706-542-6293, vnair@rx.uga.edu
Date: June 6, 2007
Dr. Vasu Nair of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy will receive the prestigious Volwiler Research
Achievement Award this year from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). This award annually
recognizes outstanding research by an individual holding a full-time appointment at a U.S. school of pharmacy.
Nair is the College's William H. Terry, Sr., Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and head of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; he is also director of the UGA Center for Drug Discovery. Nair joined the College faculty in 2002, after a long tenure at the University of Iowa where he was named UI Foundation Distinguished Professor in 1993. For the last 25 years his research work, which has been funded by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies, has focused on drug discovery targeted against infectious diseases caused by DNA and RNA viruses. Nair's most recent drug discovery achievement is that of a biologically validated inhibitor of HIV integrase, which exhibits spectacular anti-HIV activity. At present, there are no FDA-approved, integrase-based drugs for AIDS.
"Acknowledging top professionals is a way for our association to pay tribute for serving and contributing to our mission," says Dr. Lucinda L. Maine, executive vice president of AACP. "The field as a whole is celebrating Vasu's outstanding work and achievement. And by telling his story, we are educating others about the important role pharmacy educators play in improving the health of people all across the country."
Nair has published more than 430 papers and abstracts in his field, given nearly 300 presentations and supervised the work of more than 130 researchers. His honors include a distinguished scholar award, a Science Medal, and the 2001 Midwest Award of the American Chemical Society. In 1998 Nair was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition, he is a member of the board of directors of the International Society for Antiviral Research and has held four pharmaceutical consultantships in drug discovery. He has served on the editorial boards of four scientific journals and as a member and chair of several National Institutes of Health Study Sections.
The Volwiler award consists of a gold medal as well as a $12,500 monetary prize. Sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, the award was established to honor the late Ernest H. Volwiler, former president and research director of Abbot Laboratories. The presentation honoring Nair for his research achievements will be made at the AACP 2007 annual conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in July.
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is a national organization whose mission is to serve its member colleges, schools and their faculties by acting as their advocate on a national level. The Association is committed to education and scholarship for improving drug therapy.