Brian Kobilka
Encyclopedia
Brian K. Kobilka, M.D., is a professor in the departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine
in the United States. He is also the co-founder of ConfometRx, a biotechnology company focusing on G-protein coupled receptors. He was named a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2011.
Kobilka received a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, earned his M.D.
, cum laude, from Yale University School of Medicine. Following residency in internal medicine
at Washington University School of Medicine
, Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis, Kobilka worked in research as an Assistant Professor of Medicine under Robert Lefkowitz
at Duke University
. Kobilka moved to Stanford in 1989.
Kobilka is best known for his research on the structure and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); in particular, work from Kobilka's laboratory determined the molecular structure of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor
. This work has been highly cited by other scientists because GPCRs are important targets for pharmaceutical therapeutics, but notoriously difficult to work with in X-ray crystallography
.
Kobilka is the 1994 recipient of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology. His GPCR structure work was named "runner-up" for the 2007 "Breakthrough of the Year" award from Science
. The work was, in part, supported by Kobilka's 2004 Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
in the United States. He is also the co-founder of ConfometRx, a biotechnology company focusing on G-protein coupled receptors. He was named a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2011.
Kobilka received a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, earned his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, cum laude, from Yale University School of Medicine. Following residency in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
at Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
, Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis, Kobilka worked in research as an Assistant Professor of Medicine under Robert Lefkowitz
Robert Lefkowitz
Robert J. Lefkowitz, M.D. is an American physician-scientist best known for his work with G protein-coupled receptors.-Biography:...
at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. Kobilka moved to Stanford in 1989.
Kobilka is best known for his research on the structure and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); in particular, work from Kobilka's laboratory determined the molecular structure of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor
The beta-2 adrenergic receptor , also known as ADRB2, is a beta-adrenergic receptor, and also denotes the human gene encoding it.-Gene:The gene is intronless...
. This work has been highly cited by other scientists because GPCRs are important targets for pharmaceutical therapeutics, but notoriously difficult to work with in X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and causes the beam of light to spread into many specific directions. From the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a...
.
Kobilka is the 1994 recipient of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is an American academic society founded in late 1908 by John J. Abel of Johns Hopkins University , with the aim of promoting the growth of pharmacological research...
John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology. His GPCR structure work was named "runner-up" for the 2007 "Breakthrough of the Year" award from Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
. The work was, in part, supported by Kobilka's 2004 Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health . It conducts and funds research on brain and nervous system disorders and has a budget of just over US$1.5 billion...
.