Gregory Knipp
Title:
Associate Professor
PhD Granting Institution:
The University of Kansas
Contact:
Email Address: gknipp@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 765-494-3765
Lab Website Link: https://www.ipph.purdue.edu/faculty/gknipp
Primary Training Group:
Chemical Biology
Secondary Training Groups:
Biotechnology, Integrative Neuroscience
Research Areas:
My laboratory is dedicated to the utilization of new and improved models for assessing pharmaceutical performance. The laboratory's research interests include preclinical in vitro and in vivo ADMET screening, physicochemical characterization, early formulation development, and performing pharmacokinetic studies of new candidates and traditional chemical entities. Recently we have focused on the development of a novel, direct contact human blood brain barrier triculture model for screening permeability-linked neuronal response. We have also been collaborating on projects focused on the development of compounds that mitigate viral infections. In addition, I currently serve as the faculty directors of the Purdue Translational Pharmacology (PTP) CTSI Core Facility, where we conduct preclinical pharmacokinetic testing in rodent and the porcine animal models under stress free conditions.
Current Projects:
RD-84002701-0 Role: PI 8/1/2020-7/31/2023 Environmental Protection Agency-OSAPE Star Grant “Integrated Blood Brain Barrier-Computational Model Development to Predict Doses of Concern for Compound Linked Neurotoxicity.” U54 NS079201 Role: Co-I 7/1/2019-6/30/2024 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-CounterACT Centers of Excellence “Advancing Novel Cyanide Countermeasures.” R01 AI128364-01A1 Role: Co-PI 8/1/2019-7/31/2024 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases “Antiviral Lead Identification to Treat Filovirus Infections.”
Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:
Interdisciplinary research is critical to the success of biomedical sciences, and is best illustrated by considering what it takes to develop a new therapeutic entity. Briefly, consider the discovery of a new chemical entity with therapeutic potential to mitigate a disease or a disorder. The chemical must first be modified to ensure that upon administration to humans and provide the desired effect. Preclinical testing will be used to evaluate the toxicity, efficacy, and exposure of the agent and determine parameters essential for administration to humans in a safe and efficacious range. Other investigators will work to develop a dosage form that will enable to entity to be stably administered to patients, where it will provide a reproducible safe and efficacious response. Engineers will be required to help scale small batches of the chemical and dosage forms to meet the demands of a large patient population. Clearly, it takes a large team of investigators from different fields to help ensure that the a new therapeutic product can be developed and provide minimal risk while ensuring maximal benefit. When working for a company, young investigators will be placed on project teams and asked to interact with scientists whom have expertise ranging from chemical synthesis to regulatory affairs. The success of the company and the improvement in human health is largely predicated on the ability of these scientists to effectively communicate, appreciate the roles of one another, and to stay focused on the task at hand. Preparation for a career in the field requires team based learning that can only be obtained in a multidisciplinary environment that extends beyond your laboratory of study. Thus, interdisciplinary programs best prepare you for your future career in the biomedical sciences.