Brian Schaefer

Dr. Brian Schaefer is a Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, MD, affiliated with the School of Medicine and Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He also holds secondary appointments in USU's graduate programs in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Neuroscience.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1989)
• Ph.D. in Immunology, Harvard University (1995)

Dr. Schaefer's research focuses on molecular mechanisms of T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory responses in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and viral infections. His work explores:

• Digital activation of NF-κB via TCR ligation
• POLKADOTS as signaling hubs for cytosolic intermediates
• Role of myeloid cells in lung adenocarcinoma immunosuppression
• Neuroinflammation dynamics in TBI and viral pathologies
• Therapeutic strategies for neurotropic viral infections

His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches in immunology, neuroscience, and molecular biology, with collaborations across NIH, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, University of Maryland, Duke University Medical Center, and Inova Health System. Research is supported by NIH and Department of Defense grants.

Scientific Awards:

• Henry Wu Award for basic science excellence (2016)
• Dana Foundation Program in Brain and Immuno-imaging award (2005)
• Kimmel Scholar Award (2004)

Dr. Schaefer serves on the editorial board of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and participates in NIH study sections. His work bridges immunology and neurology through collaborations with the Murtha Cancer Center and USU's Biomedical Instrumentation Center.