Brian Krumm
Chapel Hill,North Carolina
Summary
Accomplished Research Assistant Professor with a focus on structural biology, X-ray crystallography, and drug discovery, achieving significant advancements in GPCR structure determination and therapeutic development.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
01.2021 - Current
- Established and scaled efficient gene-to-structure platform for GPCR complexes, accelerating structure determination timelines and facilitating rapid progression of targets into structure-based drug design (SBDD).
- Led structural determination of Class A G-protein coupled receptors including RFamide and Neuropeptide receptors (NTSR, QRFPR, NPFFR), Aminergic receptors (Serotonin, Dopamine), Hydroxycarboxylic Acid receptors (HCAR), and Orphan receptors (MRGPR, GPR88) while integrating structural insights with functional assays to inform ligand optimization, receptor selectivity, and mechanism-of-action hypotheses.
- Collaborated with Medicinal Chemist and Virtual Docking experts for structure-based drug design efforts targeting Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), advancing pathway-selective allosteric modulators with potential CNS therapeutic applications.
- Secured and contributed to externally funded programs as Co-Investigator on FDA-supported project evaluating Xylazine and Dexmedetomidine's impact on opioid receptor pharmacology, addressing emerging public health challenges.
- Supervised and mentored multidisciplinary laboratory (graduate students and postdoctoral scientists), fostering a high-performance research environment aligned with milestones and deliverables.
- Authored and contributed to a strong track record of high-impact publications (20+ primary research articles; 4 reviews), including contributions to Cell and Nature journals, enhancing organizational visibility and scientific credibility. Enabled advancement of multiple GPCR targets through structural elucidation, contributing to 10 deposited structures to PDB/EMDB, supporting downstream therapeutic development pipelines.
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
03.2016 - 12.2020
- Advanced GPCR drug discovery efforts by determining high-resolution structures of neurotensin and dopamine receptors using X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM, providing critical insights into receptor activation, signaling bias, and allosteric modulation to inform ligand design.
- Developed and applied structural biology data processing pipelines (CryoSPARC, RELION), improving efficiency and quality of structure determination to support structure-based drug discovery (SBDD) initiatives.
- Designed and executed integrated pharmacology workflows across multiple Class A GPCRs, utilizing radioligand binding, BRET, cAMP, and Presto-Tango assays to characterize receptor function and guide target validation and compound profiling. Engineered stable mammalian expression systems (HEK293, CHO) using PiggyBac transposition, enabling scalable and reproducible assay platforms for receptor screening and mechanistic studies.
- Contributed to the development and implementation of TRUPATH BRET assay system, expanding capabilities to interrogate GPCR signaling pathways and enabling pathway-selective therapeutic strategies.
- Mentored junior scientists and postdoctoral fellows, enhancing team expertise in GPCR pharmacology and structural biology while fostering collaborative a collaborative research environment.
- Authored and contributed to high-impact publications (7 primary research articles; 3 reviews), including contributions to Cell and Nature journals, increasing organizational visibility and scientific credibility. Contributed to deposition of 11 GPCR structures to PDB/EMDB, advancing internal programs and broader field.
Postdoctoral Fellow
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and S
Rockville, Maryland
11.2012 - 04.2016
- Delivered breakthrough structural insights into Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) by resolving three distinct activation states via X-ray crystallography, including the first Class A GPCR structure capturing a “flipped” CWxP motif - providing direct validation of a key activation mechanism.
- Designed and executed pharmacological characterization of NTSR1 using radioligand binding and competitive assays to evaluate receptor function, ligand affinity, and stability. Developed and applied mutagenesis-driven stabilization strategies, combining radioligand binding and structure-guided design to enhance receptor thermal stability and enable structural studies of challenging GPCR targets.
- Authored 2 primary research articles, 1 review article. Deposited 3 GPCR structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), strengthening scientific impact and enabling downstream research across academia and industry.
Graduate Research Assistant
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
01.2008 - 07.2012
- Executed doctoral research characterizing structural and functional aspects of viral proteins that evade host immune response using X-ray crystallography.
- Determined the first three-dimensional structures of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in complex with viral inhibitory proteins (IL-18BPs), providing direct structural insight into mechanisms used by poxviruses to evade host immunity.
- Contributed to establishing a structural framework for understanding cytokine inhibition with implications for antiviral and immunotherapy research.
- Guided and trained undergraduate and junior graduate students in protein purification, crystallization, and structure determination techniques, enhancing their research skills.
- Published 5 primary research articles and 1 review article; contributed 6 protein structures to Protein Data Bank (PDB), advancing scientific knowledge in the field.
Research Scientist II
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
04.2002 - 12.2008
- Conducted biophysical characterization and crystallization of medically relevant proteins from pathogenic protozoa, enhancing structural understanding of potential therapeutic targets.
- Applied a range of protein characterization techniques (dynamic light scattering, thermal shift assays, PAGE, SEC, IEC) to assess protein stability, purity, and suitability for crystallization.
- Designed and optimized protein crystallization experiments using vapor diffusion and batch methods, including crystal seeding and ligand co-crystallization.
- Performed recombinant protein expression and purification using His-tag, MBP, and GST fusion systems to generate high-quality protein samples for structural studies.
- Trained and supported undergraduate and graduate researchers in protein purification and crystallization workflows, fostering skill development in routine laboratory instrumentation.
Education
Ph.D. - Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK07-2012
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of Delaware
Newark, DE05-1996
Skills
- Structural biology
- X-ray crystallography
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- Protein characterization
- Molecular docking
- Drug discovery
- Experimental design
- Research funding
- Scientific writing
- Critical thinking
- Mentor graduate students
- Teamwork and collaboration
Timeline
Research Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
01.2021 - Current
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
03.2016 - 12.2020
Postdoctoral Fellow
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and S
11.2012 - 04.2016
Graduate Research Assistant
Oklahoma State University
01.2008 - 07.2012
Research Scientist II
University of Washington
04.2002 - 12.2008
Ph.D. - Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of Delaware