Jonathan Vennerstrom, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, has earned many honors throughout his career for his groundbreaking work in medicinal chemistry to improve treatments for malaria, schistosomiasis, and other diseases.
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But this latest award may be the most unusual.
The American Chemical Society’s journal ACS Infectious Diseases has devoted its July 2021 edition to a special issue “In Celebration of Jonathan Vennerstrom: A Pioneer in Neglected Tropical Diseases.”
“This special issue is dedicated to Professor Jonathan Vennerstrom at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), who is one of the most accomplished medicinal chemists in the field of infectious diseases and has served as an inspiration for scientists interested in making a true impact on society,” wrote Courtney Aldrich, PhD, the journal’s editor-in-chief, in a lead editorial.
It is an unusual, but well-deserved accolade, said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD.
“Dr. Jonathan Vennerstrom and his work at the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery embody our mission to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities,” Dr. Gold said. “The focus in the area of neglected tropical diseases has always been critically important and even more so now as we continue to move through this phase of the global pandemic in the developing world. We are delighted that he is being recognized in this unique way.”
Dr. Vennerstrom was honored on the journal’s cover, and by a collection of related scientific articles “from colleagues, collaborators, and former students.”
He and his UNMC team collaborated with Australia’s Monash University and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute to discover the new antimalarial drug Synriam, and the antimalarial drug candidate, OZ439, currently in clinical trials. This work was supported by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a Swiss nonprofit backed heavily by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In his current project, he and his team have identified a potential single-dose drug candidate for schistosomiasis, a tropical parasitic disease affecting as many as 200 million individuals worldwide.
The special issue was a point of pride for the College of Pharmacy.
“One of the greatest honors in science is to have your contributions recognized by your peers,” said Keith Olsen, PharmD, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “This is truly an honor bestowed to Jonathan.”
Congratulations Dr. Vennerstrom!
Congratulations and well deserved!
Congratulations, Jon. Your dedication and commitment to the eradication and treatment of malaria and other tropical diseases are truly noteworthy and deserving of this honor.
Great news! Congrats!
Many congratulations! To the most humble researcher! You have done some amazing work that saves lives. You embody what is great about UNMC!
Hail Fellow well met! Your clear concise writing is refreshing and enlightening, Truly a chemists chemist. Congratulations sir!
Way to go, Jonathan! U da' man!
What an incredible honor for the amazing work you have done! Congratulations, Jonathan!
Congratulations Dr. Vennerstrom. Well deserved!
Congratulations dear Dr. Vennerstrom!
Congratulations Dr. Vennerstrom. It was an honor to work with you when I was an undergraduate doing molecular modeling for Artemisinin and to have had you teach our Medicinal Chemistry class in pharmacy school. Extremely well deserved!
Way to go, Jonathan! Honor to be a collaborator with you.
Congratulations Dr. Vennerstrom!!! Such wonderful recognition for you and your hard work.
Congratulations Dr. Vennerstrom. We are very proud of you.
Congratulations, Jonathan! Delighted to see your accomplishments recognized. Your work has had a tremendous positive impact on millions of peoples lives.
Congratulations, Jon.
Congratulations on this outstanding recognition. You make the world a better place.