Brian Geisbrecht

Brian Geisbrecht, Ph.D., is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics at Kansas State University's College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as an Undergraduate Advisor and conducts research focused on understanding the structure, function, and mechanism of innate immune evasion proteins expressed by pathogenic bacteria and blood-feeding insect species. His work has significant implications for developing new anti-inflammatory therapies and understanding host species tropism of pathogens.

Education:

• B.S. (1996) from Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
• Ph.D. (2000) from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Dr. Geisbrecht's research centers on innate immunity, particularly the molecular basis of infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions. His laboratory employs structural, biochemical, and informatics approaches to investigate how pathogenic bacteria evade the early innate immune system, with special focus on the complement system and neutrophils. The long-term goal of his work is to translate structural and mechanistic understanding into new types of anti-inflammatory therapies. His research has revealed numerous novel modes of inhibiting key enzymes required for proper functioning of the innate immune system.

Analysis of Dr. Geisbrecht's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on complement system inhibition, neutrophil serine proteases, and staphylococcal immune evasion mechanisms. His work spans structural biology, protein engineering, and therapeutic development, with an increasing incorporation of computational approaches as evidenced by his 2024 publication on AI applications in drug discovery. The research demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward understanding molecular recognition events and developing targeted inhibitors for immune-related pathways.

Research Leadership:

• Principal Investigator of an active research laboratory studying innate immune evasion
• Collaborator with numerous national and international research groups
• Contributor to major journals in immunology, biochemistry, and structural biology