Brian Hooker (bioengineer)


Brian S. Hooker is a biologist and chemist at Simpson University. He is known for promoting the claim that vaccines cause autism.

Education

In 1985, Hooker earned his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California. He earned his master's of science degree in 1988 and his doctorate in 1990, both in chemical engineering, from Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington.

Research

Hooker formerly managed applied plant and fungal molecular biology research projects, including development of plant-based biosensors and transgenic production systems for human pharmaceutical proteins and industrial enzymes at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where systems biology researchers are focused on understanding gene and protein networks involved in individual cell signaling, communication between cells in communities, and cellular metabolic pathways. Hooker has also been involved in research on microbial kinetics and transport mathematical modeling, design, development, and support for biological destruction of chlorinated organic hydrocarbons, development of tP4 transgenic plant protein production platform technology, and development of the RT3D bioremediation/natural attenuation software package.
He left PNNL in 2009, and was hired as an associate professor at Simpson University where he specializes in biology and chemistry. Simpson University is a private Christian University of liberal arts and professional studies offering undergraduate, graduate and teaching credential programs.
Hooker is known for his anti-vaccine activism and his claims of conflicts of interest within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a board member at Focus Autism, an organization which believes in the "ongoing cover-up of the vaccine/autism link".
Hooker and Andrew Wakefield have alleged scientific fraud, conspiracy, and coverup on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with regard to the supposed link between vaccines and autism. An online video describing this situation was debunked by Snopes.

Recognition and controversy

In 2014, Hooker's paper titled "Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young African American boys: a reanalysis of CDC data" was retracted from the journal Translational Neurodegeneration. According to Hooker, the journal falsely accused him of a conflict of interest: Hooker has been involved in vaccine/biologic litigation and the journal provided no scientific rationale for the retraction.

Personal life

Hooker has publicly stated that his son was permanently damaged by vaccines.

Selected publications