VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Two Virginia Commonwealth University faculty have been honored as top contributors in science, one for research linking gum diseases to the body's immune system responses and the other for pioneering work in drug design.

Harvey A. Schenkein, D.D.S., Ph.D., Paul Tucker Goad professor of periodontics, assistant dean for research, and director of the VCU Clinical Research Center for Periodontal Disease in the VCU School of Dentistry and Lemont B. Kier, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry in the VCU School of Pharmacy recently were presented with Virginia's Outstanding Scientist and Life Achievement in Science awards at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Schenkein and Kier were among seven honorees named by the Science Museum of Virginia and Gov. Mark R. Warner as Outstanding Scientists and Industrialists of 2004.

"These scientists and industrialists represent Virginia's finest contributions this year to making life better for us all," said Gov. Warner. "Their expertise runs from nuclear physics to periodontics, from computational cell biology and drug design to robotic aircraft, from high-tech research and development to extraordinary community service. I'm proud of the honorees whose creativity and dedication are reflected in these awards."

"Dr. Schenkein and Dr. Kier are excellent examples of the important and enduring tradition of research at Virginia Commonwealth University," said VCU President Dr. Eugene Trani. "Their work is indicative of the advancements from VCU faculty and researchers that contribute to our place among the leading universities nationally in life sciences education and research."

Dr. Schenkein is at the cutting edge of understanding relationships between oral health and the general health of the whole body. His expertise in periodontics, microbiology and immunology has focused new understanding about gum diseases and how the immune system responds to gum infections and how gum diseases promote other chronic inflammatory diseases. In uncovering a genetic aspect to these diseases, Schenkein has discovered that gum diseases, which are the leading cause of adult tooth loss, are not explained totally by exposure to bacteria. He also has found that smoking can depress certain immune functions and actually promote periodontitis. His work also has found immunologic links between periodontal diseases and atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and low birth weight.

A faculty member at the VCU School of Dentistry since 1978, Schenkein earned his doctor of dental surgery degree, certificate in periodontics and Ph.D. in oral biology from State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Schenkein has specialized in periodontics for more than a quarter century, and has published more than 175 research papers, abstracts, and book chapters on periodontal disease. In addition, he has lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally, on various aspects of periodontal disease and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Periodontology, the Journal of Periodontal Research, and the Virginia Dental Journal.

In 35 years Dr. Kier has advanced drug design from a random search-and-formulate approach into model building and prediction of molecular activity before actually creating the molecule in a laboratory. In the 1960's he published the first paper in which a three-dimensional model of an acetylcholine drug molecule was predicted from theory, then confirmed with experiments. Acetylcholine is a chemical transmitter in the central nervous system.

Kier went on to develop a theory for defining molecules with a sweet taste. His model for sweetness is still in use today. In the early 1990s he and a colleague developed a method that drug companies use to evaluate large databases. With it they find similar compounds for testing and find new drug shapes to evaluate and develop. In the mid-90s Kier began studying water structure. These studies have led to a theory on the action of general anesthetic gases. Dr. Kier continues studies on water and complex systems, in both VCU's School of Pharmacy and Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, a component of VCU Life Sciences.

Kier earned his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Ohio State University and his doctoral degree in medicinal chemistry from the University of Minnesota. He has written 10 books or book chapters and nearly 120 research articles. Professor and chair of VCU's Department of Medicinal Chemistry since 1977, Kier also has a dual appointment as professor in the Department of Nurse Anesthesia, contributing to education in two VCU health sciences schools, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions.