Phillip A. Low

Phillip A. Low, M.D. is a Professor of Neurology and Consultant in the Department of Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Professorship of Neurology. His research focuses on autonomic disorders, particularly multiple system atrophy (MSA), autonomic neuropathies, and orthostatic hypotension. He leads NIH-funded programs addressing MSA mechanisms and treatments, including clinical trials with rifampicin and mesenchymal stem cells. He developed the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) and pioneered diagnostic approaches for autonomic dysfunction.

Education:

• MD: University of Sydney (1976)
• Residency: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (1973), St. Vincent's Hospital (1967)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Dr. Tosio Narahashi (Northwestern University), Dr. P.J. Dyck (Mayo Clinic)

Research Interests: Dr. Low’s work spans three core areas: (1) MSA pathogenesis and treatment, (2) novel autonomic diagnostic tests, and (3) autonomic neuropathies like diabetic and autoimmune forms. His team explores therapies to mitigate neuronal degeneration and improve autonomic function in patients.

Grants & Projects:

• NIH-funded program project on MSA (2015–2025)
• Midodrine clinical benefit study (1998–1999)
• Menstrual cycle and orthostatic tolerance research (1998–2002)

Awards:

• Jacob Javits Neuroscience Award (1988)
• Peter Bancroft Prize for Research (1976)

Labs/Teams: His work is conducted within Mayo Clinic’s Autonomic Physiology and Neurophysiology Core, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to advance synucleinopathy research and clinical trials.