Currently, Dr. Freeman is the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to this position, Dr. Freeman was a professor of anesthesiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics, and environmental health sciences, as well as director of the UAB Center for Free Radical Biology at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before that, he trained at the University of California and Duke University, where he also served on the faculty. A former Fulbright Research Scholar, he has received honorary professorships, been designated a “Highly Cited Scientist” by the ISI, and served as an officer of scientific societies.

Dr. Freeman’s lab has studied the tissue production and effects of reactive inflammatory mediators, revealing both pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for acute lung injury, atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart failure, kidney failure and sickle cell disease. In particular, his research has significantly expanded our knowledge of the oxidizing and free radical molecules that act as inflammatory mediators and cell signaling agents. His lab pioneered the concept that the molecule nitric oxide (NO) has its signaling and pathogenic actions modulated by reaction with superoxide, yielding the potent inflammatory and cell signaling species peroxynitrite (ONOO). His lab also discovered that oxidizing lipids react with nitric oxide-derived species to yield modified lipid products that manifest novel anti-inflammatory and metabolic signaling actions. His discovery of reactions of nitric oxide with myeloperoxidase, oxidizing lipids and prostaglandin synthetic intermediates also reveals novel mechanisms of catalytic nitric oxide scavenging that are now appreciated to be important during inflammation. The research advances made by Dr Freeman and his colleagues have yielded multiple patents, clinical trials investigating novel anti-inflammatory drugs, and the creation of a biotechnology company.