ASP Annual Meeting 2025 a Grand Success
by Melany P. Puglisi, PhD
This article appears in the ASP Newsletter Volume 61, Issue 3.
On behalf of the organizing committee, it is my pleasure to share the highlights from the 2025 ASP Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan! The theme of the meeting was “A Grand Natural Products Adventure/Pharmacognosy Infused Health and Wellness Solutions.” I would like to thank our sponsors including Amway, Waters, Camag, Verdure Sciences, USP, Proctor and Gamble (Younger Members Committee), American Chemical Society and the Brady Fund.
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Remembering Our Late Colleague and Friend Gordon Cragg
by David J. Newman, DPhil and Sheo Singh, PhD
This article appears in the ASP Newsletter Volume 61, Issue 3.
ASP Fellow, Dr. Gordon Mitchell Cragg, died on August 25, 2025, at the age of 89. He was a devoted member of ASP throughout his long and illustrious career in natural products research. The following tribute has been written by his two longtime friends, colleagues, and ASP Fellows, Drs. Dave Newman and Sheo Singh.
Read MoreNewsletter Staff
Edward J. Kennelly, PhD
Editor In Chief
Patricia Carver, MA
Copyediting & Proofreading
Craig Hopp, PhD
Newsletter Committee Chair
Melissa Henckel, MS
Social Media Committee
Dayani Sarath Parakumge, PhD
Social Media Committee
Arvie Grace Masibag, MSc
Dongdong Wang, PhD
Patricia Van Skaik, MA, MLS
Christine Jankowski, MA
Contribution Deadlines
Spring: Feb. 15; Summer: May 15 Fall: Aug. 15; Winter: Nov. 15
Please send information to
Edward J. Kennelly, PhD Editor,
ASP Newsletter
Department of Biological Sciences
Lehman College, CUNY
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West Bronx, NY 10468
718-960-1105
asp.newsletter@lehman.cuny.edu
ISSN 2377-8520 (print)
ISSN 2377-8547 (online)
In Memoriam: Richard G. Powell
by A. Douglas Kinghorn PhD
This article appears in the ASP Newsletter Volume 61, Issue 3.
ASP member Richard (Dick) G. Powell, a long-time associate editor of the Journal of Natural Products and an outstanding phytochemist, passed away in May 2025 at the age of 86. He was a retired research leader at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, where he worked for 31 years. Powell served as associate editor with great acumen for a total of 23 years, from 1991 through 2013. In recognition of his outstanding editorial service, he was named on the journal masthead page as “Honorary Editor” from 2014-2015. Powell was very capably aided by his late wife, Rosemary, as his editorial assistant during his tenure.
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Wright Receives 2025 Farnsworth Award
by William Gerwick, PhD
This article appears in the ASP Newsletter Volume 61, Issue 3.
At the 2025 ASP Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dr. Amy Wright of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University delivered the Norman R. Farnsworth Research Achievement Award lecture. Wright has had a lengthy and productive scientific career discovering and elucidating the structures of highly bioactive marine natural products. A highly distinctive aspect of her work is that she has largely focused on deep-sea marine invertebrates, as her home institution is one of the few in the world to have access to deep-sea diving vessels.
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Exploring the Role of Professional Societies when Science Is Under Attack
by Brian Murphy, PhD
This article will appear in the ASP Newsletter Volume 61, Issue 3.
Since taking office in January of 2025, the second Trump Administration has carried out a series of legislative actions that continue to severely weaken our nation’s scientific infrastructure. They have employed both physical intimidation of university students and financial hostage-holding of institutions to force compliance with their policies.
Read MoreASP Membership
Full Membership
Full membership is open to any scientist interested in the study of natural products.
Current membership dues and Journal of Natural Products subscription rates can be found at www.pharmacognosy.us.
Associate Membership
Associate membership is open to students of pharmacognosy and allied fields only. These members are not accorded voting privileges.
Current membership dues and Journal of Natural Products subscription rates can be found at www.pharmacognosy.us.
Emeritus Membership
Emeritus membership is open to retired members of the Society who maintained membership in the Society for at least five years.
Current membership dues and Journal of Natural Products subscription rates can be found at www.pharmacognosy.us.
Honorary Membership
Honorary members are selected by the Executive Committee of the American Society of Pharmacognosy on
the basis of meritorious service to pharmacognosy.
Present Honorary Members are:
Dr. Cindy Angerhofer • Dr. John H. Cardellina • Dr. Alice M. Clark, University of Mississippi
Dr. Geoffrey A. Cordell, University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Gordon C. Cragg, National Institutes of Health • Dr. Harry H.S. Fong, University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Edward J. Kennelly, Lehman College, CUNY • Dr. Ikhlas Khan, University of Mississippi
Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University • Dr. David J. Newman
Dr. Roy Okuda, San Jose State University • Dr. James E. Robbers, Purdue University
Dr. Barbara Timmermann, University of Kansas
Additional information about membership may be obtained by writing to the Treasurer of the Society:
Jimmy Orjala, PhD, Treasurer, The American Society of Pharmacognosy,
2720 Dundee Road, #260, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. Email: asphcog@gmail.com
Newsletter Archive
Purpose
The purpose of the American Society of Pharmacognosy Newsletter is to serve as the primary source to disseminate information in various scientific disciplines to the membership of the Society. It also serves to convey messages to the membership and to encourage individuals to become members.
Content
- News items are accepted in the fields related to the discipline of pharmacognosy, which includes natural product chemistry and applications, biotechnology, phytomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmaceutical technology, complementary and alternative therapies, nutraceuticals, traditional medicines, and related areas.
- Information on upcoming meetings of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and other meetings related to the areas above.
- Listings of new books related to the discipline of pharmcognosy.
- Announcements of the development of new programs in the area of natural products at colleges and universities, institutes, and governmental organizations.
- Announcements of the availability of award and grant opportunities in the area of natural products research.
- Listings of job opportunities for young professionals in relevant areas.
© American Society of Pharmacognosy, 2025
Questions about the ASP Newsletter can be addressed to:
Dr. Edward J. Kennelly, Editor
ASP Newsletter
Lehman College - CUNYs
Dept of Biological Sciences
250 Bedford Park Blvd West
Bronx NY 10468-1527
Phone: 718-960-1105
Fax: 718-960-8236
E-mail: kennelly@lehman.cuny.edu
© American Society of Pharmacognosy, 2025