David A. Dean

David A. Dean, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on improving gene therapy efficacy through targeted delivery mechanisms, particularly for pulmonary diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). He leads the Dean Lab, which investigates cytoplasmic trafficking of DNA, nuclear import mechanisms, and electroporation-mediated gene transfer. Dean holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed postdoctoral training in Virology at UCLA.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley (1990)
• B.A. in Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego (1985)

Research Interests:

Dean’s lab develops cell-specific plasmids and electroporation techniques to enhance gene delivery efficiency. Key projects include targeting plasmids to alveolar epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, with applications in treating lung diseases. They also explore cytoskeletal interactions and nuclear import pathways to optimize non-viral vectors.

Awards and Honors:

• Ruth A. Lawrence Academic Faculty Service Award in Research (2011)
• Sandler Program for Asthma Research Senior Investigator (2005)
• Nearly 20 years of NIH and industry grants for gene therapy and pulmonary research

Advisees and Collaborations:

Dean mentors over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Notable collaborations include work with the Sandler Asthma Research Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. His lab’s innovations in electroporation have advanced preclinical models for ARDS and asthma treatment.

Labs and Teams:

The Dean Lab is part of the URMC Lung Biology and Disease Program, with affiliations in Biomedical Engineering and Pharmacology. They maintain strong ties to clinical translation efforts, aiming to bridge basic science with medical applications.