CHICAGO, IL, August 27, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bernard Santarsiero has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Santarsiero's distinguished career in structural biology and drug discovery has spanned more than five decades, with over 25 years dedicated to the University of Illinois Chicago. As a research professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Retzky College of Pharmacy from 2000 to 2025, Dr. Santarsiero established himself as a leader in infectious disease drug discovery and structural biology. Early in his tenure, he was involved in pioneering research on coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, well before these pathogens became widely recognized threats.
During his time at the University of Illinois Chicago, Dr. Santarsiero also spearheaded a major project investigating the metabolic pathways of the anthrax organism in response to the anthrax mail scare of the early 2000s. This work contributed to new approaches in drug development targeting bioterrorism-related threats.
Over roughly the past 15 years, Dr. Santarsiero has been instrumental in recruiting students from underrepresented minority communities into science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, drawing on Chicago's diverse population. As an openly gay faculty member, he has worked within the College of Pharmacy to support LGBTQ students and foster an inclusive environment, helping ensure that students from all backgrounds feel welcome and represented.
In addition to his research and teaching roles, Dr. Santarsiero served as adviser to the senior vice provost for academic programs, student success and engagement at the University of Illinois Chicago beginning in 2020. He has also held concurrent appointments as director of research initiatives in both the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research since 2023 and the Graduate College since 2017. His leadership extended to serving as associate at the UIC Pharmacognosy Institute starting in 2021 and previously as director of research initiatives in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Engagement from 2017 to 2023.
From 2003 to 2018, Dr. Santarsiero directed X-ray diffraction resources at the university, the UI Health Biorepository, and translation technology in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, supporting advanced research infrastructure for faculty and students. He also coordinated underrepresented minority student and STEM initiatives from 2015 to 2025. His commitment to diversity was further reflected in his role as co-chair of the chancellor's committee on the status of LGBT, queer people and allies from 2007 to 2009, and 2014-2018.
Beyond these university leadership roles, Dr. Santarsiero's expertise is widely recognized across academia and industry. He served as program coordinator for PBRC PREP, the Portal to Biomedical Research Careers program, at the UIC Graduate College from 2018 to 2025, and earlier held posts as assistant to the director at the Research Resources Center between 2011 and 2015. He also served as associate director at UICentre from 2012 to 2014 and held an adjunct professor appointment in Chemistry from 2016 to 2017.
Dr. Santarsiero's editorial contributions include serving as co-editor for Acta Crystallographica from 2012 to 2020. Nationally, he was treasurer for the American Crystallographic Association between 2007 and 2011 and a member of the US National Committee for Crystallography from 2006 to 2011. He also served on scientific advisory boards such as Shamrock Structures (2004 to 2009) and contributed expertise on NASA's structural biology panel review (1998 to 2002).
A defining milestone in Dr. Santarsiero's career was co-founding Syrrx in 1998, a structural biology technology company that pioneered high-throughput protein structure determination using synchrotron light sources and robotics. During his nine-year tenure, Dr. Santarsiero's vision led Syrrx to secure approximately $100 million in venture capital funding and ultimately contribute technology that enabled significant advances in drug discovery. The company's approach prioritized making technology broadly accessible rather than focusing solely on proprietary tools, a decision Dr. Santarsiero considers among his most meaningful professional achievements.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Santarsiero held a range of academic and industry roles — including posts at The Scripps Research Institute, the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — that shaped his expertise in crystallography, catalysis, materials science, and biochemistry.
Throughout his career, Dr. Santarsiero has been recognized for his scientific contributions with nine patents and over 165 journal articles spanning organometallic chemistry, catalysis, natural products research, drug discovery, and solid-state materials science. He was also featured in the Harvey Mudd College Magazine in 2026 for his accomplishments in engaging students in research and promoting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and teaching.
In addition to his professional titles, Dr. Santarsiero is an active member of several professional organizations. Among the scientific societies are the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the American Crystallographic Association. He also belongs to the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Society of Pharmacognosy. Rounding out his affiliations are the International Union of Crystallography and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.
Dr. Santarsiero's educational background laid a strong foundation for his achievements. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in physical chemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1980 after completing a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont in 1975. Early experiences tutoring disabled students, including recording chemistry textbooks for blind students, and participating in Project Open Future during high school deepened his dedication to expanding educational access for underrepresented groups.
Civic engagement has been central throughout Dr. Santarsiero's life. For more than a decade, he worked with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and served on the board of directors for the Chicago chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights — both gay veterans organizations — and now contributes nationally as newsletter editor, producing its quarterly publication after reviving it following a hiatus. His advocacy work extends into civil rights efforts focused on healthcare access for LGBTQ servicemembers and veterans as well as broader equal rights issues, e.g., Secretary for Gerber Hart Library, 2004-6.
Dr. Santarsiero's exceptional service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Latinos Lifetime Service Award from the University of Illinois Chicago Chancellor's Committee for the Senate, the Chancellor's Academic Award, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Faculty Award, and a Fellow designation from the American Crystallographic Association. He also received the Diamond Award for Academic Leadership in Higher Education from the Not Alone Foundation and an R&D 100 Award with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's engineering team, among others.
Born in Pomona, Dr. Santarsiero enjoys collecting and watching classic film noir movies, particularly those renowned for their dialogue-driven storytelling, and is an admirer of directors such as Alfred Hitchcock. He is committed to rescue adoption, noting that all of his dogs have been adopted from shelters.
Looking ahead, Dr. Santarsiero is entering a new phase centered on teaching, writing and board service following his formal retirement from the University of Illinois Chicago while remaining closely affiliated through an adjunct research professor appointment. He continues teaching an honors college course on ethnobotany exploring drug discovery through culture and folklore with plans to develop its lectures into a textbook manuscript. With more time away from laboratory management, he seeks opportunities on foundation or corporate boards where he can share his expertise.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #