UT Dallas Faculty
Dr. Michael Burton
Assistant Professor
Dr. Burton is an Assistant Professor whose research focuses on how the immune system modulates peripheral sensory neurons to regulate pain and energy homeostasis. He moved to Dallas, TX to begin his postdoctoral fellowship work in the Department of Hypothalamic Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. There Michael gained skills in molecular genetics, neuroendocrinology, and neuroanatomy. He then moved to the UT-Dallas campus to focus on how immune cells influence the transition to chronic pain. It was the fusion of these 2 experiences that formed the basis of a recently awarded NIH-Transition-to-Faculty Award.
Lab WebsiteDr. Michael Burton
Dr. Greg Dussor
Associate Professor
Dr. Dussor’s research has identified targets within the afferent nociceptive system that innervates the meninges, including acid-sensing ion channels, several TRP channels, and IL-6 signaling mechanisms. They have also identified non neuronal cells (fibroblasts) as potential contributors to afferent signaling from the meninges. Dr. Dussor has moderated two webinars on migraine hosted by the Pain Research Forum and has been interviewed on KERA’s Think! program. He also is a recipient of a “Future Leaders in Pain Research” award from the American Pain Society, serves as Associate Editor for the journal PAIN, and regularly participates in several NIH study section panels.
Lab WebsiteDr. Gregory Dussor
Dr. Diana Tavares Ferreira
Assistant Professor
Dr. Ferreira’s lab is interested in investigating how axons communicate with the soma and with neighboring cells. We are particularly interested in understanding how RNA transport occurs and identifying the RNAs that localize to distal axons. Additionally, we are interested in characterizing miRNA function in sensory neurons and improving algorithms for the analysis of omics data. This involves using and developing tools for the integration of single-cell and spatial data from different conditions and species and modeling the specificity of RNA-protein interactions. We are also interested in developing and applying machine learning to transcriptomic data and image analysis.
Lab WebsiteDr. Diana Tavares Ferreira
Dr. Ben Kolber
Associate Professor
Dr. Kolber’s lab (1) studies the role of the amygdala and other brain circuitry in the integration of painful information and emotional well-being using behavioral, physiological, and optogenetic tools, (2) seeks novel therapies to treat pain and depression comorbidity using natural product compounds from marine cyanobacteria and Cameroonian plants and (3) works with clinicians to develop novel integrative non-pharmacological therapy to treat musculoskeletal pain in humans. Dr. Kolber’s work has been supported by multiple foundations and groups including the National Institutes of Health and the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Lab WebsiteDr. Benedict (Ben) Kolber
Dr. Ted Price
Professor
Dr. Ted Price is one of the foremost researchers in understanding how neuronal plasticity alters the way the brain receives nociceptive information from the sensory system and how this relates to chronic pain in human patients. Dr. Price has discovered several novel targets that regulate the excitability of sensory neurons after injury and that mediate plasticity in the central nervous system that cause pain to become chronic. He serves as an editor for several leading industry journals and received the Patrick D. Wall Young Investigator Award from the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Lab WebsiteDr. Ted Price
Dr. Zhenpeng Qin
Assistant Professor
Our laboratory focuses on fundamental understanding of the bio-nano interface and translating this to biomedical applications. Current efforts focus on the thermo-plasmonic fundamentals and its effects at the interface between biological systems and nanomaterials. Specifically, experimental techniques and methods will be developed to understand the effects of nanoparticle plasmonic heating on proteins and other biomolecules immediately surrounding the nanoparticle. This leads to new enabling tools for fundamental research, and to applications in both diagnostic and therapeutic areas.
Lab WebsiteDr. Zhenpeng Qin
Dr. Kate Sadler
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kate Sadler uses animal models and human tissues to characterize the molecules and cells involved in peripheral and central sensory transmission. We are particularly interested in deconstructing the circuits through which gut microbes and metabolites drive pain.
Lab WebsiteDr. Kate Sadler
Dr. Muhammad Saad Yousuf
Research Assistant Professor
The Yousuf Lab focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms driving neuropathic pain in metabolic and autoimmune disorders, specifically in diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The goal is to identify shared pathways, such as the integrated stress response and translation regulatory mechanisms, which contribute to pain hypersensitivity in these conditions. The research aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop non-opioid drugs for neuropathic pain treatment.
Dr. Muhammad Saad Yousuf
Dr. Xintong Dong
Assistant Professor
Dr. Xintong Dong’s lab focuses on the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), particularly defensins, in host-microbe interactions and inflammatory diseases. We investigate defensin signaling in psoriasis, the interaction between S. aureus and the defensin system, and the role of AMPs in urinary tract infections. The research aims to identify defensin receptors, understand their impact on immune cells and sensory neurons, and explore potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and UTIs.
Lab WebsiteDr. Xintong Dong
UT Southwestern Faculty
Dr. Helen Lai
Assistant Professor
Dr. Lai’s lab is interested in understanding how animals process both external and internal sensory information to interact appropriately with their environment. In particular, Dr. Lai’s lab studies the somatosensory circuits that mediate pain and proprioception at the intersection of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Lab Website