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Philip Low

Philip Low

Reprogramming of the human Immune System

Design of targeted drugs to independently reprogram different immune cell types (activated macrophages, T cells, antigen presenting cells, Fc receptor expressing cells) for treatment of malignant, CNS, infectious, and autoimmune diseases

Development of a novel CAR T cell immunotherapy for cancer

Development of novel ligand-targeted immunotherapies for cancer that are specifically activated only in the tumor mass. Included among the immunotherapies is a novel universal CAR T cell therapy for all cancers and several other therapies that specifically reprogram immune cells in the tumor microenvironment without altering the same immune cells in healthy tissues.

Bone and Soft Tissue Regeneration

Use of hydroxyapatite-targeting peptides to deliver attached bone anabolic agents for accelerated healing of bone factures, spinal fusions, reconstruction surgeries, stress fractures, orthopedic and dental implants, bone remodeling procedures.

Radioligand Therapies For Cancer

Using our toolbox of cancer-targeting ligands, we design tumor-targeted radionuclides, including 177 Lu, 225 Ac, and 68 Ga for the radiotherapy and radioimaging of multiple solid tumors.

Therapies for infectious Diseases

Design of targeted immunotherapeutic agents for treatment of viral and other infectious diseases.

Fluorescence Guided Surgery of Cancer

Synthesis of tumor-targeted fluorescent dyes for identification, localization, resection and staging of cancers during surgery.

A Cure for Malaria

Development of therapies to treat erythrocyte diseases, with special focus on creating a single pill cure for malaria and a nontoxic therapy for sickle cell disease.

SYK-specific Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

We have designed a number of SYK-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors and have exploited them to treat such diseases as malaria, leukemias, lymphomas, sickle cell disease, autoimmune diseases, and even Alzheimer's disease. In all cases, the key to success has been to design an inhibitor that blocks SYK while exhibiting no off-target inhibitory potency against other tyrosine kinases.

RNA and DNA based Therapeutics

Recent successes of RNA- and DNA-based therapeutics has awakened an interest in exploring the use of oligonucleotide drugs (ONDs) to manipulate human biology. With our large toolbox of cell targeting ligands, we have begun to develop ligand-targeted OND-based therapies for a number of human diseases.

Therapies for Liver Diseases

Liver function can be compromised by many maladies, including cirrhosis, viral infections (e.g. HBV), inflammation, and fatty liver disease/MASH. Using novel hepatocyte- and Kupffer cell-targeting ligands, we are developing targeted therapies for several of these pathologies.

Therapies for Fibrotic Diseases

Fibrotic diseases can arise in essentially any organ or tissue, and collectively they account for ~45% of all deaths. In an effort to design treatments for fibrotic diseases, we have developed the ability to target drugs selectively to the activated subset of fibroblasts that produce the fibrosis. These targeted therapies show significant promise in treating most of the fibrotic diseases that plague humanity today.

Learn more about Dr. Low's Lab

Primary inventor on >775 published U.S. patents/patents pending, H-Index = 124

Education

  • B.S., Brigham Young University, 1971
  • Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1975

Awards

  • Named one of Indiana’s 250 most influential persons, 2024
  • American Lung Association – Legacy Award, 2024
  • Gustavus John Esselen Award (ACS), 2022
  • Peter Speiser Award, 2018
  • Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research, 2015
  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research, 2015
  • American Chemical Society's George & Christine Sosnovsky Award for Cancer Research, 2015
  • Elected National Academy of Inventors, 2015
  • Mathias P. Mertes Award, 2015
  • Roland T. Lakey Award, 2015
  • Morrill Award, 2014
  • BYU Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2013
  • Watanabe Life Sciences Champion of the Year Award, 2013
  • Outstanding Commercialization Award for Faculty, 2006
  • World of Difference Award, Indiana Health Industry Forum, 2000
  • National Institutes of Health MERIT Award, 1999
  • Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1998
  • Sigma Xi Research Award, 1997
  • Herbert Newby McCoy Award(Purdue University's award for the best research on campus), 1993
  • Indiana Lions Club Cancer Research Award, 1991
  • International Union Against Cancer Fellow, 1987
  • Research Associate, University of Massachusetts, 1975

Publications

List of publications