Philip Salvatore Portoghese

Background

Portoghese was born on June 4, 1931 in Brooklyn, New New York

Education

He received a Bachelor of Surgery in pharmacy and then went on to obtain an Master of Surgery degree in physical pharmacy in 1958.

Career

He is a Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He has also served as the Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry since 1972. He then continued at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in pharmaceutical chemistry under the mentorship of Doctor.Edward East. Smissman in 1961.

He joined the faculty of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at University of Minnesota in 1961, where he has served with distinction for over five decades.

He is known internationally for designing several opioid ligands including β-funaltrexamine, naltrindole, norbinaltorphimine, and naltriben. He has pioneered the use of bivalent ligands to target opioid receptor complexes called homomers and heteromers.

He was recently honored for 50 years of exemplary academic service by the University of Minnesota. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Chemical (American College of Surgeons) Division of Medicinal Chemistry.

Doctor Portoghese served as Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry from 1972 to 2012, making him one of the longest standing editors of an American College of Surgeons journal.

Achievements

• Portoghese has been a recipient of numerous awards including: 1980 A.Ph.A./Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Achievement Award in Medicinal Chemistry 1984 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Ernest H. Volweiler Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences 1986 University of Catania honorary doctorate 1990 Division of Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemistry Society: Medicinal Chemistry Award 1990 American Associate of Pharmaceutical Scientists: Research Achievement Award in Medicinal Chemistry 1991 College on Problems of Drug Dependence, National Academy of Sciences, USA-National Research Council: N.B. Eddy Award for Excellence in Drug Abuse Research 1991 Division of Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemistry Society: Electrical Engineer Smissman-Bristol-Myers-Squibb Award 1992 Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen: Honorary Doctorate 1996 University of Wisconsin: Citation of Merit 1997-2006 National Institutes of Health: Medical Relief International (Method to Extend Research In Time) Award 1999 Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society Award 1999 The Oak & the Tulip Medal, Società Chimica Italiana, and the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry 2000 American Chemical Society: Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry 2000 University of Minnesota: Distinguished Professor 2000 University of Minnesota: Citation of Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service 2001 University of Minnesota: Weaver Medal, University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy 2003 University of Minnesota: Academy for Excellence in Health Research, Academic Health Center 2006 European Federation of Medicinal Chemistry: Nauta Award in Pharmacochemistry 2007 Member, Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame, Division. of Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemistry