Rate My Professor Dean Burkin

A world-renowned expert on integrins and laminin in muscle disease, Burkin's research examines the α7β1 integrin and its role in disease progression in muscular dystrophies, including identification of integrin-enhancing small molecules, development of non-invasive diagnostic tests, and therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and laminin-α2-related congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-CMD). His lab was the first to demonstrate that the α7β1 integrin can surrogate dystrophin loss in DMD and that laminin-111 protein therapy substitutes for merosin deficiency in LAMA2-CMD, resulting in patented treatments in preclinical trials. Notable findings include a novel form of cardiac dysfunction from α7 integrin mutations, small molecules preventing DMD progression in models, and Spatial-Omics biomarkers for monitoring LAMA2-CMD. He has received NIH R01 grants for laminin protein therapy (1R01NS136281-01) and integrin optimization (9R42OD030543-02A), as well as Muscular Dystrophy Association funding. Key publications encompass 'Enhanced expression of the α7β1 integrin reduces muscular dystrophy and restores viability in dystrophic mice' (2001), 'α7β1-Integrin regulates mechanotransduction and prevents skeletal muscle injury' (2006), 'Laminin-111 protein therapy prevents muscle disease in the mdx mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy' (2009), and 'Laminin-111 protein therapy reduces muscle pathology and improves viability of a mouse model of merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy' (2012). In 2017, Burkin was awarded the University Foundation Established Innovator Award for his translational impact.