Brian A. Cobb

Brian A. Cobb is the Michael E. Lamm Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Director of the Immunology Training Program. He holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma (1995) and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis (2000). His postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School (2001–2004) focused on immune responses to bacterial polysaccharides. His lab investigates glycobiology and immunology, specifically how host and microbial glycans regulate immune function and inflammatory diseases.

Research interests include IgG glycosylation dynamics, macrophage polarization via glycan sensing (Siglecs), and the interplay between glycans and immune cell behavior. His work bridges glycobiology with clinical applications, such as developing glycan-modulating therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Notable projects include elucidating IgG sialylation mechanisms, discovering ST6Gal1-independent pathways in B cells, and exploring how liver glycans influence macrophage function. The lab also studies the role of polysaccharides from commensal bacteria in immune regulation.

Dr. Cobb leads the Cobbohydrates Laboratory, established in 2005, which has published extensively on glycan-Immune interactions. His research has implications for understanding and treating diseases like asthma, multiple sclerosis, and metabolic disorders linked to glycan dysregulation.