Brian Olson
Brian M Olson, PhD
Assistant Scientist
Email: bmo@medicine.wisc.edu
Education:
BS: University of Wisconsin - Madison
(2004, Biochemistry)
PhD: University of Wisconsin - Madison
(2010, Cancer Biology)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship: UW Carbone Cancer Center
(Laboratories of Dr. William Burlingham and Dr. Douglas McNeel)
Dr. Brian Olson, PhD was an assistant scientist with an appointment at the UW Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) in the McNeel lab.
Brian attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate education, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 2004. During this time, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Burgess, the James Watson Professor Emeritus of Oncology, conducting research into antibody production, protein purification, and subunit interactions of bacterial RNA polymerase. He then attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working in the McNeel lab where his research focused on the pre-clinical development of a DNA vaccine targeting the androgen receptor. During this time, he received a pre-doctoral training award from the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program (DOD PCRP) which funded his graduate education. After obtaining his PhD in Cancer Biology, he then received a post-doctoral training award from the DOD PCRP, which funded his post-doctoral training in the laboratories of Dr. William Burlingham (UW Hospital and Clinics, Department of Surgery) and Dr. McNeel, which focused on evaluating mechanisms of antigen-specific immune tolerance and the role of pre-existing immunity on vaccine efficacy.
As an assistant scientist in the McNeel lab, Dr. Olson has received a Young Investigator Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation, as well as an Investigator Initiated Trial award from the UWCCC, funding his research focused on the clinical development of a DNA vaccine targeting the androgen receptor in combination with androgen deprivation therapy to prevent the generation of castrate-resistant prostate cancer. He was also interested in studying mechanisms of resistance to these therapies, and to design therapeutic strategies to overcome tumor escape variants that avoid primary therapies. Dr. Olson was also involved with the Cancer Therapy Discovery and Development Working Group and the Genitourinary Oncology disease-oriented working group, working in collaboration with clinicians, research nurses, and scientists to develop new therapeutic regimens for the treatment of a variety of malignancies.
Outside of his research in the laboratory, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife Terrah Paul Olson (a General Surgery resident at the UW Hospital and Clinics) and his daughters, Rhiannon and Tessa.