Brent L. Iverson, Ph.D.
Member
W.J. and V.M. Raymer Professor and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin
Education
B.S. in chemistry (with honors), Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 1982. Ph.D. in chemistry, 1987, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, with Professor Peter Dervan. Postdoctoral Work at Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 1987-1990, with Dr. Richard Lerner.
Expertise
Iverson’s research program lies at the interface of chemistry and biology. Milestone achievements include:
Development of the first synthetic folding molecules and the first artificial duplexes formed in water as mimics of proteins and DNA, respectively.
Synthesis and study of the first synthetic analogs of amyloid, reminiscent of what is found in Alzheimer’s patients.
Design, synthesis and study of the first threading polyintercalators. These are molecules capable of binding sequence-specifically to DNA for record lengths of time, with the aim of treating genetic diseases, retroviral infections (i.e. HIV) or cancer by inactivating specific genes for extended periods.
In collaboration with Chemical and Biomedical Engineer Dr. George Georgiou, several patented and commercially used technologies have been developed to engineer proteins such as antibodies for enhanced therapeutic activity.
The lab is perhaps best known for developing a cure for anthrax called Anthim® based on an engineered anti-toxin antibody that has been commercialized by Elusys, Inc., approved by the FDA and is currently stockpiled as a strategic national biodefense countermeasure.
His current work is focused on the engineering of human proteases as a new generation therapeutic with the potential to dramatically lower costs and reduce side effects compared to antibodies. The effort revolves around a patented new yeast technology called YESS.
Affiliations
2021-2022, Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Ad interim, the University of Texas at Austin 2013-2022. Dean, School of Undergraduate Studies, the University of Texas at Austin 2013-2015, President, UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers 2010-2013, Chairman, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the University of Texas at Austin 2005-2010, Director, Texas Institute for Drug and Diagnostic Development (TI-3D) at the University of Texas at Austin 2004-Present, Warren J and Viola Mae Raymer Professor, the University of Texas at Austin 2001-Present, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Member of the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas at Austin 1999-Present, Distinguished Teaching Professor, the University of Texas at Austin 1996-2001, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and member of the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas at Austin 1990-1996, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the University of Texas at Austin. 1989-1990, Senior Research Associate at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. 1987-1989, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Lerner. 1982-1987, Graduate Research Assistant in the laboratory of Professor Peter Dervan at the California Institute of Technology. 1979-1982, Undergraduate Research Assistant at Stanford University in the laboratory of Professor James Collman.
Publications
Has published extensively in three different areas of molecular science (Supramolecular Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Protein Engineering). Current h-Index: 69; Current Total Citations: 21,894; Number of Papers with > 1,000 Citations: 2; Number of Papers with > 100 Citations: 57. Co-author of a popular Organic Chemistry Textbook published by Cengage, now in its 9th edition.
Inventor on 25 issued U.S. patents, 15 of which have been licensed commercially so far.
