Advancing the field of drug discovery.
In relentless pursuit of innovative treatments for cancer and other complex diseases.
In relentless pursuit of innovative treatments for cancer and other complex diseases.
Our Passion
Team
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, our team combines decades of academic and professional experience to provide unparalleled creative thinking and industry leadership.
Company
Established in 2019, KOR Life Sciences is a collaborative organization dedicated to advancing the field of drug discovery for complex disease treatment. Our singular goal has been to inspire innovation.
Breakthroughs
Despite recent progress in brain tumor research, the survival time of Glioblastoma patients is less than two years. Our research takes advantage of proprietary Up-Conversion Nanoparticles for the treatment of GB.
Our research involves the investigation of newly designed metformin-based small molecules for solid tumors including aggressive forms of glioblastoma, lung, pancreatic, and colon cancer.
There is no current medical therapy to treat or slow the progression of Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Our studies include unique and novel combinations of experimental methods, animal models, and drug delivery systems.
Our mission is to develop & deliver oncology, cardiovascular, and other therapies for patients with high unmet medical needs.
Senior Molecular Scientist
Dr. Lilli Wright has over 15 years of experience in identifying molecular pathways and targets in a variety of therapeutic indications. She earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from Clark Atlanta University and a PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of South Alabama-Mitchell Cancer Institute. Her thesis research has been cited over one hundred times and has laid a foundation for novel insights for blood vessel formation in cancers. She was an NIH-T32 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina where she identified a novel signaling pathway in ischemic cardiac injuries. She has co-authored several high-impact research and review articles in her career and has been invited to speak at local, national, and international research proceedings.
She has written multiple grants that were awarded and supported robust research and discovery programs. Her roles at KOR Life Sciences include being a scientific thought leader in the ideation, development, and execution of innovative pre-clinical IND-enabling studies. Dr. Wright supports the team in establishing and maintaining a variety of cross-functional internal and external collaborations to advance product development. She also serves as a Board Member of Claflin University’s Master’s in Biotechnology program and volunteers in her community through active membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and the National Society of Black Engineers.
President of Research & Development
Saeed Khan, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed scientist, professor, and leader in the field of life-science technologies. Presently, he holds the esteemed position of President of Research and Development at Vikor Scientific/KOR Life Sciences. He also continues to share his extensive knowledge as an Adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins Oncology and Affiliate Professor of Biomedical Science and Drug Discovery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Additionally, he serves on the Academia to Industry (A2I) committee of the College of Medicine at MUSC, bridging the gap between academic research and industry applications.
In his current role at Vikor Scientific/KOR Life Sciences, Dr. Khan has distinguished himself through his effective leadership and wealth of experience in commercializing early-stage life-science technologies. His robust connections with institutional venture investors, thought leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, and leading clinicians worldwide enable him to stay at the forefront of his field. Dr. Khan’s career has been punctuated by notable successes in cancer drug discovery and research development. His remarkable team organization skills have enabled him to assemble groups capable of addressing all aspects of a project, with professionals from academia, industry, and healthcare alike. His managerial expertise, together with his firsthand experience in drug discovery and development, covers both small molecules and biologics.
Throughout his 30-year career, Dr. Khan has proven his proficiency as a senior scientist and professor. He has devoted over 25 years to cancer research, with experience in both academia and FDA organizations that directly supports the innovative initiatives at KOR Life Sciences. Dr. Khan has initiated a groundbreaking drug discovery and development research program that focuses on cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
His contributions to the field are manifold, including key academic collaborations on the QD product assets which target solid tumors. Dr. Khan, alongside Dr. Neamati of the University of Michigan, championed pancreatic cancer drug development from its inception through the initial stages of discovery and preclinical studies. His research ranges across various cancer types, antiviral compounds, and anti-HIV agents, utilizing in vitro and xerograph models. His consistent, dedicated efforts have resulted in ten international patent applications over the past two decades in the field of cancer therapy.
Before joining Vikor Scientific/KOR Life Sciences, Dr. Khan served as the Senior Research Scientist and Chief of the Shelf-life Extension Program of Medical Countermeasure Drugs at the Food and Drug Administration. In this role, he was a crucial subject matter expert in the approval of pharmaceutical products. Prior to his tenure at the FDA, he served as a faculty member at Johns Hopkins Oncology and as the Director of the Drug Discovery Center at the same institution, assisting the oncology faculty in revitalizing the drug development program and leading the product development team.
Dr. Khan, contributes a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in the field of drug discovery and development to KOR Life Sciences. His history of proficient leadership, combined with his extensive abilities in research and development, bolsters his standing as an essential player in the company’s continuous expansion and advancement. His profound expertise unquestionably establishes him as an indispensable asset to the company.
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Medicinal Chemist
Nanomedicine Scientist
Senior Administrative Assistant