Brent L. Iverson, Ph.D.
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 with a focus on the design, synthesis and study of large molecules that mimic or interact with biological systems. His work emphasizes developing new approaches to the study or treatment of human disease at the basic science level. 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. (Pine Brook, New Jersey, [url=http://www.elusys.com]http://www.elusys.com[/url]) and is nearing approval/acquisition as a strategic national biodefense countermeasure.
Affiliations
2010-2023, 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
Iverson has more than 130 publications in the scientific peer-reviewed literature as well as being a textbook author.