One of six University of Iowa (UI) faculty members chosen for the prestigious honor, Bighley Chair and Professor Aliasger Salem has been awarded the 2025 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence. Salem, who has been at the UI for more than 20 years, is a professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy and associate vice president for research in the Office of the Vice President of Research. 

Established in 1990 by the State of Iowa Board of Regents, State of Iowa, the honor provides a state-wide forum in which the excellence of faculty members is recognized and shared with colleagues from other Regent institutions. Recipients must have a sustained record of excellence across the spectrum of faculty endeavors (teaching, scholarship, service) or such outstanding accomplishments in one or more of the areas as to justify their selection.

Salem has made remarkable contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences, showcasing expertise in drug discovery, development, formulation, and delivery. His work focuses on advancing therapies for regenerative medicine, cancer, and other diseases. With 11 patents, more than 270 peer-reviewed publications, and more than $80 million in grant funding, Salem’s impact on the field is substantial.  

With the assistance of UI's John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Salem has successfully launched and led two businesses, S5G Therapeutics and Petrost Therapeutics. Driven by a passion for innovation, he strives to create meaningful and lasting impacts on communities and society. S5G Therapeutics develops therapeutics to treat corneal diseases, while Petrost Therapeutics is a company that facilitates bone regeneration in bone defects or damaged bone.

Salem is also an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists, Controlled Release Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.