Distinguished Scientist: John-Martin Lowe, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2019 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: John-Martin Lowe, Ph.D.
• Titles: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health; assistant vice chancellor for interprofessional health security training and education; director for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit; executive council member for the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center for Health Security
• Joined UNMC: 2011
• Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Research focus:

• Infectious diseases surveillance and detection;
• Disrupting transmission of highly infectious diseases; and
• Safety training and risk communication.

The goal of my research is: To develop evidence-based knowledge to guide infection prevention and control, outbreak response methods and guide policy for highly infectious diseases through biosurveillance, environmental risk assessment, clinical research and translational research. My research focuses on building infectious disease response capabilities for austere settings and optimizing high-level isolation systems for patient care like our very own Nebraska Biocontainment Unit and National Quarantine Unit.

My research will make a difference because: We have unique interdisciplinary research and care teams working to develop evidence-based strategies for disease surveillance and clinical care systems to improve clinical care in developing countries as well as in developed countries like the United States.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:

“You can innovate and accomplish so much more by building interdisciplinary teams based on trust and a joint mission” — Phil Smith, M.D.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• A huge part of my achievements is based on the incredible teams I work with. The most important team is my wife Abbey and our four children.
• I travel a lot and really enjoy experiencing other cultures and cuisines.
• My favorite hobby is snowboarding with the whole family.