Lowell T. Harmison, Ph.D.

"The body is a magic being both in health and disease. It is the most sophisticated pharmaceutical factory that exists……Our challenge is to figure out how we can assist this magical body to return the patient to a state of good health." 

-- Dr. Lowell Harmison

Dr. Lowell T. Harmison has spent over 40 years at the forefront of medical research and public health, specializing in HIV/AIDS, heart disease, cancer and healthcare. During his renowned career, he has served as researcher, inventor, author, biotechnologist, U.S. government senior health advisor, executive-level advisor to health related foundations and corporate executive in private and public companies. His work encompasses innovative scientific thinking and discovery as well as sound education and business strategies for corporate and foundation profitability, growth and stability.

A master at taking extremely complex scientific, technical and administrative issues and converting them into practical application, Dr. Harmison is as comfortable in the clinical world of research and development as he is in the boardrooms of hospitals, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, foundations and world governments. He brings a unique in-depth combination of scientific and corporate experience to the table: his keen awareness of innovation and benefit/risk balance, the need for clearly defined strategies and objectives and attention to the bottom line.

In the scientific world, Dr. Harmison’s pioneering work in HIV/AIDS led to his developing and testing the first HIV/AIDS blood test for the U.S. Public Health Service. As a result of his landmark work, the FDA approved the first blood test in March 1985 for use by the American Red Cross to screen America’s blood supply. By July 1985, the American Red Cross had completed the screening of the U.S. blood supply. With the increasing worldwide spread of the AIDS virus, Dr. Harmison was responsible for revolutionizing the safekeeping of blood supplies around the globe, saving countless lives while providing a significant tool for the study of this disease.

Another significant focus of his work is in cancer vaccines and immunotherapies. As the Science Advisor to the U.S. Public Health Service and as innovator in the private biotechnology sector for more than 25 years, his work encompassed a decade of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a decade of service as the U.S. Public Health Service Science Advisor and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The Public Health Service included NIH, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA), Center for Disease Control (CDC,) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), with a combined budget of over $10 billion and 40,000 employees. Dr. Harmison’s cancer vaccine efforts include breakthrough work on specific tumor antigens, monoclonal antibiotics and immune stimulators. He served as a member of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services Vaccine Compensation Commission to help work out plans and strategies to address adverse events caused by vaccines.

In 1969 While Dr. Denton Coley was making headlines by implanting a plastic total heart pump in his patient as a two-day bridge to transplantation, with all controls and power outside the body, Dr. Harmison made history by developing and testing the first completely implantable artificial heart in the world. He holds the first U.S. and foreign patent for this device. (Patent Number 3,919,722).

In the foundation and corporate world, Dr. Harmison brings government, academia and industry together to solve major health issues. He is a senior executive advisor to the Hasumi International Research Foundation, Chairman of the WorldDoc Foundation, Chairman of the World Immuno-Society for Health (WISH), Dean of the International Academy of Artificial Organ Pioneers, and adjunct university professor.

During Dr. Harmison’ decades of global private foundation and corporation work, he helped found four biomedical companies and two medical foundations, including Global Sequella TB Foundation. He developed an innovative concept for technology transfer, which resulted in the formation of University, Science, Engineering and Technology Corporation (USET), the first comprehensive biomedical technology transfer company. In the process, he led the acquisition effort that acquired University Patents, Inc. (UPI), University Technology Corporation (UTC), and Technology Information Center (TIC). Dr. Harmison served as USET’s first President and CEO. For five years he was Chief Operating Officer of The Maxwell Foundation, which was one of the world’s largest private philanthropic and research organizations, which consisted of 21 operating companies in communications, engineering, and aviation with over $1.25 billion in assets.

Dr. Harmison’s expertise has enabled him to assist companies in the discovery and negotiation of business and educational opportunities, advise them on the upsides and downsides of new products and mergers, help them conduct research collaboration, clarify governmental programs and facility standards, identify new product business activities, and consult on corporate and governmental acceptance, revenue streams and image building. He also advises the leaders of Canada, Ireland, Russia, and China on their health and environmental programs and provides liaison to academic and private organizations and corporations.

Dr. Harmison has authored over 100 publications and most recently co-authored the book Zeroing in on the Cancer Cell: Cancer Vaccines (2002, Hasumi International Research Foundation), which has been published in English, Japanese, Chinese and Russian. He has presented more than 500 lectures around the world. Dr. Harmison currently serves on the Board of Directors of five companies: Recon Systems, ProCell, Aavantgarde, pHA BioRemediation and IMUH. Dr. Harmison has previously served on the Boards of more than 10 U.S. corporations and hospitals. He chaired the 2004, 2003 and 2002 International Cancer Vaccine Symposia in London, Beijing, and Tokyo respectively.

Dr. Harmison received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from West Virginia University, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, and Honorary Doctor of Science from West Virginia University. He completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Michigan and M.I.T.

An accomplished scientist, biotechnologist, inventor, and businessman, Dr. Harmison addresses professional and lay audiences on a wide range of topics that can be tailored to any group. These include but are not limited to:

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