The Norman Weiner Lecture honors the legacy of Dr. Norman Weiner, former ASPET President and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to ASPET and to pharmacology research, education, and scientific leadership.
Dr. Weiner served as ASPET President from 1986–1987 and held numerous leadership positions within the Society, including chair of the Board of Publications Trustees, councilor, and secretary/treasurer. In 1987, he experienced a debilitating stroke while chairing an ASPET meeting. With the support of his wife, Diana, he returned to his professorship at the University of Colorado and remained actively engaged in ASPET until his death in 2009. His resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Society continue to inspire the Norman Weiner Lecture.
One of ASPET's distinguished lectures, the Norman Weiner Lecture recognizes a distinguished scientist whose career reflects not only sustained scientific achievement in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, but also enduring contributions to mentorship, education, leadership, and service to the scientific community.
The recipient receives the Norman Weiner Lecture medallion and reimbursement for travel expenses, including a two-night hotel stay and airfare or ground transportation to attend the ASPET Annual Meeting. The Norman Weiner Lecture is presented virtually following the ASPET Annual Meeting in odd-numbered years.
The lecturer is selected by the ASPET Program Committee or a subcommittee appointed by the Program Committee.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Eligibility
Nominees should be distinguished scientists with a sustained record of excellence in pharmacology, experimental therapeutics, or closely related biomedical sciences, together with a demonstrated record of professional leadership, mentorship, and service to the pharmacology community
Additional eligibility requirements include:
- The nomination must be submitted by an ASPET member.
- The nominee is not required to be an ASPET member, although membership is encouraged.
- Members of the ASPET Program Committee, any designated Norman Weiner Lecture selection committee, and the current ASPET President and Secretary/Treasurer are not eligible during their active terms of service.
- Committee members with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves from discussion and voting.
Evaluation Criteria
Selection should be based on the nominee's overall impact on pharmacology as well as alignment with Dr. Norman Weiner's legacy of scientific excellence, leadership, mentorship, education, and service. Nominees will be evaluated based on:
- Sustained originality, rigor, and impact of their scientific accomplishments.
- Scientific contributions that have advanced pharmacology, experimental therapeutics, or closely related biomedical sciences.
- National or international recognition as a leader in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics or related biomedical sciences.
- Excellence in mentorship, education, and the development of students, postdoctoral fellows, early-career scientists, or other trainees.
- Meaningful service to ASPET, the pharmacology profession, or the broader biomedical research community.
- A career characterized by scientific integrity, collegiality, resilience, and lasting impact on the discipline.
ASPET encourages nominations of outstanding scientists from all backgrounds and particularly welcomes nominations of individuals from historically underrepresented groups in biomedical research.
How to Submit a Nomination
Nominations must be submitted using the ASPET online submission portal. For the 2027 Lecture, the nomination form will open by July 30, 2026.
A complete nomination package should include the following materials.
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A current curriculum vitae and bibliography combined into a single PDF document.
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A nomination letter describing the nominee's accomplishments and qualifications for the Norman Weiner Lecture (maximum 1,000 words in a PDF format).
The letter should address the nominee's:
- Scientific accomplishments and their impact on pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.
- Leadership within pharmacology, experimental therapeutics, or related biomedical sciences.
- Contributions to mentorship, education, and trainee development.
- Service to ASPET and the broader scientific community.
- Alignment with Dr. Norman Weiner's legacy of scientific excellence, leadership, mentorship, education, and service.
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Conflict and relationship disclosure - The nominator should disclose any relationships with the nominee that could reasonably be perceived as conflicts of interest, including:
- Family member, spouse, or partner.
- Current department chair, dean, graduate advisor, or postdoctoral mentor.
- Current business or financial relationship.
- Research collaborator or co-author within the previous three years.
- Employment at the same institution or acceptance of a position at the same institution.
- Former graduate student or postdoctoral trainee within the previous five years.
Disclosure of a relationship does not preclude consideration of the nomination but promotes transparency during the review process.
Program committee members with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves from discussion and voting.
Nomination Timeline
The Norman Weiner Lecture is presented in odd-numbered years.
2027 Nomination Cycle:
- Nominations open: July 30, 2026
- Nomination deadline: September 3, 2026
- Recipient notification: October 30, 2026
- Recognition of the Norman Weiner Lecturer at the ASPET Annual Meeting: May 19, 2027
- Virtual Norman Weiner Lecture: June 2027
Past Norman Weiner Lectures
2025
David R. Sibley, PhD, FASPET
NIH/NINDS
Searching for Selectivity: The Identification of Novel Modulators for Targeting Dopaminergic Signaling
Watch the Recording.
2023
Daniela Salvemini, PhD, FASPET
Saint Louis University Medical School
A Voyage Through the Galaxy of GPCRs Discovers Novel Stars for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
2021
Margarita L. Dubocovich
University at Buffalo
Cycle of Discovery: Neuropharmacology of Melatonin Receptors and Circadian Rhythms
2019
Mary Vore
University of Kentucky
Cancer Chemotherapy, Oxidative Stress and ATP-Dependent Efflux Transporters
2017
Jack Bergman, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital
Drug Discrimination Procedures and in Vivo Pharmacological Analysis
2015
William A. Catterall, University of Washington
Structural Basis for Function and Pharmacology of Voltage-Gated Sodium and Calcium Channels
2013
David E. Clapham, Boston Children’s Hospital, HHMI
Novel Ion Channels and their Regulation
2011
Robert J. Lefkowitz, Duke University, HHMI
Seven Transmembrane Receptors: Something Old, Something New
2009
Saloman Z. Langer, Euthymia, Ltd
Lecture held at University of Colorado