Chris Kepley PhD, MBA




Group Leader, Nanomedicine
Luna Nanoworks





1. How do you feel as a winner of the prestigious PhARF award 2010?
I am honored and humbled to have been selected. I am a perfect example of how to become successful riding the coattails of my mentors. I owe a lot to Dr. Lawrence Schwartz at Virginia Commonwealth University and Dr. Andy Saxon at UCLA. Without them I would not have been selected.

2. Which do you think is the biggest scientific discovery in your research field?
I believe the biggest discovery was that “non-releaser” basophils (those that do not respond to IgE-mediated stimulation) DO NOT express the protein tyrosine kinase Syk. This has opened the door for many new lines of research that other investigators are currently exploring. I have proposed that allergen-induced reductions in mast cell/basophil Syk levels following immunotherapy may help explain the desensitization, and efficacy, observed in patients.

3. What projects are you currently involved?
We are currently involved in finding new therapies for mast cell/basophil associated diseases such as allergy, asthma, and arthritis. We have discovered that fullerenes provide a platform for such therapies. We are in the process of finding lead candidates for further therapeutic development.

4. What do you think will be the impact of the PhARF award on your career?
I believe it will help me keep at the forefront of research and ultimately find new ways to treat mast cell-driven diseases.

5. What do you think are the steps for further awareness of the society concerning allergies?
I think keeping funding levels high for basic research will help drive the discoveries that interest people.