People of ASP

After gaining his B.S. and M.S. (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy), Norm earned his Ph.D. at the Univ. Pittsburgh, and while still a grad student, served as the first ASP Vice President. He joined Univ. Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1970, and has served in numerous capacities, currently being Distinguished Professor and Director of the UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research. His research has been well funded by NIH (top 3% of all grant awardees), NSF, WHO, USDA, industry and private foundations, leading to over 500 scientific publications and reviews. Among his many honors are Honorary Doctorates from the Univ. Paris (Rene Descartes), Upsalla University and MA College of Pharmacy. He was one of the founding fathers of the ASP, and, as its second president, he contributed to the implementation of the new constitution and recruitment of members. Over the years, Norm has encouraged innumerable UIC students and postdocs to present at ASP meetings, and many of them have become longtime active members. His favorite meeting was in Pittsburgh (1964) where every scientist who had a significant role in the development of anticancer agents from Catharanthus roseus attended a very spirited meeting; also noted was Norm’s introduction of “vincatini” (Smirnoff vodka, chlorophyll, and other proprietary ingredients), greatly enjoyed by all attendees. He notes “It has been a privilege and honor to have seen the development of ASP over the last 50 years; I have missed probably only three or four meetings of the Society. My research skills, if any, have been greatly enhanced with contacts and information provided by and through the ASP and its annual meetings. I hope to be around for a few more.” (NRF)