Thomas Brett, PhD

Dr. Brett obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from North Dakota State University and performed his PhD studies in Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He then proceeded to a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the lab of Professor Daved Fremont at Washington University (Department of Pathology and Immunology), where he focused on structural, biophysical, and functional studies of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, immune signaling, and host-virus interactions. Following his postdoctoral work, he was recruited to the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary Division) at Washington University School of Medicine and established a structural biology lab with a focus on molecular mechanisms of disease and drug discovery. Dr. Brett’s group applies structural, biophysical, and functional studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, COPD, and Alzheimer’s disease. During the last eight years, he has taken a specific interest in Alzheimer's disease, specifically with regard to the receptor TREM2, the soluble version of the protein (sTREM2), and the MS4A family of membrane proteins that modulate TREM2. The group’s research has been supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Thome Memorial Foundation, and the Alzheimer’s Association.