Michael D. Burton

Dr. Michael D. Burton is an **Associate Professor** and **Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professor** in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), affiliated with the **School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences**. He is a founding member of the **Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS)** and holds roles in the **Center for Vital Longevity (CVL)**. His research focuses on neuroimmunology, pain mechanisms, and metabolic disorders, emphasizing how immune-nervous system interactions influence chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and aging-related conditions. Dr. Burton’s work bridges preclinical and translational research, using rodent models and human clinical samples.

Education:

• PhD in Animal Science (Immunophysiology and Behavior), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012)
• B.S. in Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006)
• Postdoc in Pain Neurobiology, UT Dallas (2017)
• Postdoc in Diabetes/Metabolism Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center (2015)

Research Interests: Dr. Burton investigates how peripheral stimuli (diet, alcohol, immune activation) affect pain and behavior through neuroimmune pathways. Key areas include:

• Sex differences in pain sensitivity and neuroinflammation
• Risk factors for chronic pain (e.g., high-fat diets, aging)
• Neuroimmune biomarkers for pain and delirium
• Development of non-opioid analgesics (e.g., cannabinoids)

Awards:

• 2024 ROAR Research Award, UT Dallas
• 2023 Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professorship
• 2022 SFNova/Rising Star (Society for Neuroscience)
• 2019 Mitchell Max Award for Pain Research

Grants & Leadership:**

• Co-Director, **Enhancing Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Experiences (ENSURE)** program ($900K grant)
• NIH R35, R21 grants (pain and metabolism)
• Editorial roles: *Neurobiology of Pain*, *Journal of Neuroinflammation*, and others

Labs & Teams:**

• Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab (UT Dallas)
• Member, NIH Pain Consortium and Endocrine Society’s Basic Science Group