Simone Brixius Anderko

Dr. Simone Brixius-Anderko is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Pharmacogenetics. She holds a PhD from Saarland University (Germany) and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan, focusing on cytochrome P450 structure-function relationships. Her research targets P450 enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism, with applications in hypertension and cancer treatment. She leads the Brixius Lab, which combines structural biology, biochemistry, and drug design to develop novel therapies.

Education & Training:

• PhD in Biochemistry, Saarland University (2016)
• Postdoc, University of Michigan (2017-2021), studying P450 crystallography under Prof. Emily Scott

Research Interests:

Her work centers on cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs), particularly their roles in:

• Drug design for hypertension and Cushing's disease
• Fatty acid hydroxylation pathways in lung cancer progression
• Structural biology of CYP11B1/11B2 and CYP4F enzymes
• Biotechnological production of steroids using engineered microbes

Grants & Awards:

Recipient of the NIH R35 MIRA award ($1.88M, 2024-2029) for studies on fatty acid-metabolizing CYPs. Also recognized with the AACP New Investigator Award (2023) and Leading Edge Fellow (2021).

Labs & Teams:

The Brixius Lab collaborates with institutions worldwide, including the University of Michigan and Saarland University, and hosts a multidisciplinary team of PhD students, postdocs, and undergraduates focusing on P450 enzyme research.