Anderson Named Dean of UB School of Pharmacy

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Wayne K. Anderson, Ph.D., has been appointed dean of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy effective Nov. 1.

The appointment of Anderson, who served as interim dean for the past two years, was announced by UB Provost Thomas E. Headrick.

"The search committee conducted a wide, national search, looked at outstanding candidates, and by a wide margin recommended Anderson," said Headrick. "The president and I are extremely pleased with the recommendation."

Headrick said that Anderson "has provided the School of Pharmacy with outstanding leadership during a period when changes in the structure of pharmacy education and developments in pharmacology and pharmaceutical science pose some very important challenges to the school."

Anderson's appointment comes at a time when the School of Pharmacy is launching a new, entry-level doctorate in line with a directive by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

A UB professor since 1968, Anderson previously served as professor of medicinal chemistry and associate chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. He holds a joint appointment as professor of chemistry.

Anderson has done pioneering research into the design, synthesis and development of anti-cancer and anti-HIV agents, and in the study of enzyme inhibitors.

In 1992, the National Cancer Institute awarded him a five-year, $1 million grant for continuing fundamental molecular research on new cancer drugs. Through computerized molecular modeling and chemical synthesis in the lab, Anderson and his colleagues design and formulate hundreds of chemical compounds, searching for properties that are desirable in cancer treatment. Their goal is to find new drug candidates that have good activity against cancer, but also are selective, shrinking tumor cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

One of his drug developments, tetraplatin, is in phase II clinical trials as an anti-cancer agent, and three other anti-cancer drugs -- IPP, silaplatin and carmethizole -- are in preclinical development.

Anderson holds a number of patents and conducts ongoing collaborative research with clinical and biological scientists at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Developmental Therapeutics Program of the National Cancer Institute and several drug companies.

His research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for the past 24 years.

In addition to his research experience and leadership roles, Anderson has served as a regular member of the NIH Medicinal Chemistry Study Section, the Chemotherapy Panel of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Breast Cancer Program, and as an ad hoc member of numerous other NIH panels. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council Chemical Sciences Review Panel.

Anderson has published more than 100 manuscripts and has presented lectures locally, nationally and internationally.

He also has served as a member of the UB Faculty Senate Executive Committee, as secretary of the UB Faculty Senate and has chaired or served as a member of a number of university committees. He is a member of the President's Advisory Council and the UB Council on Research and Sponsored Programs.

In 1988, Anderson was named the Niagara Frontier Inventor of the Year. Other honors include a NYS/UUP Excellence Award in 1990 and a Buffalo Ambassador Award in 1993.

Anderson holds a bachelor's degree in pharmacy and a master's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Manitoba, and a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

He lives in Williamsville.