Vladimir Parpura, MD, PhD, MAE, holds both a medical degree, awarded from the University of Zagreb in Croatia in 1989, and a doctorate, received in Neuroscience and Zoology from Iowa State University in 1993. He is presently a tenured Professor in the Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, U.S.A. Parpura is President (2017-2019 term) of American Society for Neurochemistry. He has been elected to the Council of International Society for Neurochemistry (2019-2023 term).  He received 2017-2018 McNulty Civitan Scientist Award given by the Civitan International Research Center and the Chesapeake District of Civitan International.