November 1, 2018
In his upcoming Distinguished University Professor lecture, Gordon L. Amidon, PhD’71, will explore carbon dioxide from many angles, “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

Does the much-maligned carbon dioxide, a driving force behind global warming, deserve its bad rap?

In his upcoming Distinguished University Professor lecture, Gordon L. Amidon, PhD’71, will explore carbon dioxide from many angles, “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

The talk will take place at 4 p.m. on November 14 in the Rackham Amphitheatre. The lecture and reception that follows are free and open to the public.

Prof. Gordon L. Amidon is the William I. Higuchi Distinguished University Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences.  His research aims to understand the gastrointestinal factors that control drug absorption from an oral drug product. 

“I will present a modest attempt to resurrect the image of carbon dioxide,” explains Amidon. “While global warming and the role that atmospheric gases play in the ‘green house’ effect has received considerable attention in the scientific and public press, I will point to the more positive role of carbon dioxide in evolution and in biology.”

“A theme in my research over my career has been the mysteries of the gastrointestinal tract and in particular oral absorption from a drug product and its therapeutic efficacy in patients,” notes Amidon.  “Most recently, my laboratory has determined that carbon dioxide and its aqueous form, bicarbonate ion, play an essential role in the absorption of many drugs.  I will track this theme from my graduate student days at the University of Michigan up until today. It has been a marvelous and much enjoyed journey!”

Prof. Amidon has received numerous national and international awards and three honorary degrees for his contributions to Pharmaceutical Sciences.  He earned a BS in pharmacy from SUNY Buffalo and received an MA in Mathematics and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He joined the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy faculty in 1983, following ten years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin.  

Prof. Amidon chose to recognize his mentor and graduate advisor, Professor William I. Higuchi by naming the Distinguished University Professorship in Prof. Higuchi’s honor. Prof. Higuchi, an internationally recognized pioneer in the area of biopharmaceutics and delivery, has made significant contributions in drug transport. Prof. Higuchi joined the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy as associate professor in pharmaceutical chemistry in 1962. He was named the Albert B. Prescott Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy in 1976, a title he held until he left the University of Michigan in 1982. Prof. Higuchi is currently professor emeritus of pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Utah. Prof. Higuchi received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Michigan in 2013.