Anthony W. Norman

Anthony W. Norman is a distinguished professor emeritus of biochemistry and biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside and one of the world's foremost experts on vitamin D.

Vitamin D Research

Formally stated, Norman's research is the "mechanism of action of the steroid hormone 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3; vitamin D structure-function relationships, actions of the vitamin D receptor (VDR)."

In 1967, Norman's lab discovered that vitamin D is converted into a steroid hormone by the body. In 1969 he determined that vitamin D receptors (VDR) were present in the intestine.

In 1971 the Norman laboratory reported the chemical structure of the steroid hormone to be 1∂,25(OH)2Vitamin D3.

In 1972, Norman in collaboration with Dr. Jack Coburn at the UCLA medical school treated the first uremic patients with the steroid hormone, produced in the Norman laboratory.

In 2008, Norman and Dr. Cedric Garland of UC San Diego made the recommendation that the daily intake of vitamin D for adults be revised to 2000 international units.

Selected Honors and Awards

• Presidential Chair, Biochemistry Department, UCR 7/1/99 - 2009
• Graduate Student Mentor Award, UCR, June 2005
• Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1995
• William F. Neuman Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 1995
• MERIT Award from National Institutes of Health, 1986-1993 (standard award period is five years)
• Osborne & Mendel Award, American Institute of Nutrition, 1990
• Faculty Research Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, 1982
• Prix Andre Lichtwitz, INSERM, Paris, France, 1981
• Ernst Oppenheimer Award, Endocrine Society, 1977
• Mead Johnson Award, American Institute of Nutrition, 1977
• Fulbright Fellowship, 1970/71

Other Notes

• Served as the chair of the UCR Department of Biochemistry, July 1976 - June 1981
• Served as dean of UCR Biomedical Sciences Program, July 1986 - Sept. 1991.
• Served as the chair of the UCR Faculty Academic Senate from Sept. 2008 through August 2010.
• Served as the faculty athletic representative for the UC Riverside Athletics Department through Sept. 2010.
• Was principal organizer of 14 triennial international Vitamin D Workshops.

Publications

Through May, 2011, Norman had been credited with over 800 scientific publications dating back to 1959.

Selected Memberships

• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• American Institute of Nutrition; American Chemical Society
• Biochemistry Society (England)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Endocrine Society
• American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
• American Society for Cell Biology
• American Association for Cancer Research, Inc.
• Editorial Board, Steroids, 1996–present
• Editorial Board, Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1981–present