Triggle Named SUNY University Professor

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- David J. Triggle, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and former UB provost, has been named a SUNY University Professor in recognition of his extraordinary achievement as a scientist, administrator and educator.

The title of University Professor, one that usually is reserved for former university presidents or chancellors, was awarded to Triggle by the State University of New York Board of Trustees at its meeting on Jan. 29.

In nominating his colleague for the designation, UB President William R. Greiner noted that Triggle achieved SUNY's highest faculty rank -- that of Distinguished Professor -- more than a dozen years ago, "and his star has continued to rise ever since."

"Once in a great while, an extraordinary individual comes along who surpasses even the highest levels of recognition established within a given community," Greiner said. "As a path-breaking scholar, a first-rate teacher and mentor, and a devoted citizen and leader of our university community, Dr. Triggle is just such a stellar individual, exceeding UB's own very high standards of excellence in each of the three primary components of our educational mission: research, teaching and service.

"His contributions in each of these areas have been truly superior throughout his 40 years of service to the university," Greiner said.

UB Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi praised Triggle as a worthy recipient of the designation.

"David Triggle has an international reputation as a pharmaceutical scientist and has been key in helping us establish corporate partners for our Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics," Capaldi said. "He is an outstanding scientist and generous human being who has represented excellence in his own personal activities and also the activities he has supported and nurtured at UB.

"He richly deserves SUNY's highest title."

Thomas F. Egan, chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees, noted Triggle's outstanding career.

"Dr. Triggle is deserving of this honor to be named a University Professor because of his extraordinary 40-year record of achievement as a scientist, administrator and educator at the University at Buffalo," said Egan.

SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King said, "As University Professor, Dr. Triggle will continue his extensive teaching, scholarship and administrative duties at the University at Buffalo. We appreciate Dr. Triggle's great contribution to the academic excellence and high quality of the educational experience at the university."

Since joining the UB faculty in 1962 as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, Triggle has served the university in a variety of administrative posts. He served as chair of the Department of Biochemical Pharmacology from 1971-85, when he was named dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He held that position until he was named dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education and research in 1995. He succeeded Thomas E. Headrick as UB provost in January 1999.

He returned to the faculty in July 2000 when Capaldi was named provost. Since that time, he has maintained an extensive teaching schedule, as well as some administrative duties. He also serves as senior advisor to Capaldi on the Buffalo Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics, taking advantage of his extensive contacts in the pharmaceutical industry and in the field of biochemistry scholarship.

A prolific researcher, Triggle's internationally recognized work focuses on how drugs interact with calcium channels, cellular mechanisms that regulate the entry of calcium when stimulated. He has conducted pioneering research into the action of calcium-channel antagonists in the cardiovascular system and studies calcium channels and aging.

He is the author or co-author of 10 books, 140 book chapters and reviews and more than 250 scientific papers, and has delivered 1,000 lectures around the world.

He has served on numerous internal and external committees relating to pharmacy and health-sciences curricula and the future of graduate programs in general.

A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science since 1975, Triggle is a member of numerous professional societies. He serves on the editorial boards of many of the field's prominent journals, including Pharmaceutical News, of which he is founder and editor.

Among his numerous honors, he has received the Otto Krayer Award in Pharmacology from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and the Volwiler Research Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

A native of London, England, Triggle received a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Hull and a bachelor's degree from the University of Southampton.