Lemont Kier

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Lemont Burwell Kier [1] (September 13, 1930 - Jan 2, 2024) was an American chemist and researcher in the field of drug design and medicinal chemistry. [2] He was the recipient of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 2008 Research Achievement Award in Drug Development and Discovery. [3] Kier obtained his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1958 and is currently a Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry and Nurse Anesthesia at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He participated in the founding of the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity at Virginia Commonwealth University. [4] Kier passed away on January 2, 2024. [5]

Contents

Work

Kier built one of the first models in which molecular orbital theory was applied successfully to drug design and development. Later, he and his colleague, Lowell Hall, developed what is now called the "Kier-Hall Index" to describe molecular connectivity. [6] [7] His particular expertise in the question “How do chemical modifications affect particular physical properties of drugs?” has been used to develop the theory of the interaction of general anesthetic gases with the body, [8] and the theory of taste (and in particular, sweetness).

Professor Kier is the author or co-author of eight books: [9] Molecular Orbital Theory In Drug Research; [10] Molecular Connectivity In Chemistry and Drug Research; [11] Molecular Connectivity in Structure Activity Analysis; [12] Molecular Structure Description: The Electrotopological State; [13] Medicinal Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthetists; [14] Cellular Automata Modeling of Chemical Systems; [15] and Science and Complexity for Life Science Students. [16]

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References

  1. Lemont B. Kier: art, science and green cheese. G. Restrepo, Curr. Comput-Aid Drug. 12, 314-324 (2016)
  2. See, for instance Richmond Times and Dispatch, Feb. 26, 2004 "Three Named Top Virginia Scientists"
  3. "INSIDE AAPS: AAPS Awards and Fellows - Award Recipients Listing". Archived from the original on 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  4. L. B. Kier, My Journey Through Structure: The Structure of My Journey, Internet Electron. J. Mol. Des. 2006, 5, 181–191,
  5. Pharmacy, Mary Kate BroganSchool of. "Renowned medicinal chemist, mentor and lyricist of VCU alma mater Lemont Kier dies at 93". VCU News. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  6. "From chemical topology to three-dimensional geometry" by Alexandru T. Balaban, Springer Books, 1997, p. 7
  7. Molecular drug properties: measurement and prediction - Google Books Result by Raimund Mannhold, Wilel VVH (2007) pp. 88-90
  8. Molecular Connectivity and SAR of General Anesthetics. T. Dipaolo, L. B. Kier and L. H. Hall, Molec. Pharmacol., 13, 31 (1977)
  9. Lemont B. Kier: a bibliometric exploration of his scientific production and its use. G. Restrepo, E. J. Llanos and A. E. Silva, Curr. Comput-Aid Drug. 9, 491-505 (2013)
  10. Molecular Orbital Theory In Drug Research. L. B. Kier, Academic Press, New York (1971)
  11. Molecular Connectivity In Chemistry and Drug Research L. B. Kier and L. H. Hall, Academic Press, New York (1976)
  12. Molecular Connectivity in Structure Activity Analysis. L. B. Kier and L. H. Hall, John Wiley Publ, London (1986)
  13. Molecular Structure Description: The Electrotopological State L. B. Kier and L. H. Hall, Academic Press, San Diego, (1999)
  14. Medicinal Chemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthetists L. B. Kier and C. Dowd Amer. Assoc. of Nurse Anesthetists, Chicago (2004)
  15. Cellular Automata Modeling of Chemical Systems. L. B. Kier, P. G. Seybold and C.-K. Cheng, Springer, Amsterdam (2005)
  16. Science and Complexity for Life Science Students. L. B. Kier, Kendall/Hunt, Dubuque, IO, (2007)