Aaron Burberry

Aaron Burberry serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and is a Member of the Immune Oncology Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. His laboratory investigates the intersection of neurodegenerative diseases, the immune system, and environmental factors, with particular focus on ALS and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Research Interests: Dr. Burberry's work centers on neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, specifically how genetic mutations like C9orf72 interact with the microbiome and immune system to influence neural inflammation. His laboratory employs cutting-edge techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, and bacterial metatranscriptomics using germ-free C9orf72 loss-of-function mice and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models of microglia and motor neurons. Key research areas include:

• Host-microbial interactions in neurodegeneration
• Immune system contributions to neural homeostasis
• Genetic and environmental risk factors for ALS/FTD
• Microglial function in neuroinflammation

Publication Trends: His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in neuroimmunology, with increasing focus on the gut-brain axis in neurodegeneration. The 2020 Nature paper established C9orf72's role in suppressing neural inflammation through gut bacteria interactions, while subsequent work has expanded into single-cell analyses of neurodegenerative processes and microbial contributions to disease pathogenesis.

Awards & Recognition:

• K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award from the National Institute of Aging

Research Support: Currently supported by NIH/NIA R00 funding, Dr. Burberry's laboratory continues to explore genetic and environmental contributions to neural inflammation. His work bridges basic immunology with translational neuroscience, aiming to develop innovative therapeutic strategies for devastating neurodegenerative conditions that cost hundreds of billions in healthcare annually.

Laboratory: The Burberry group operates from the Wolstein Research Building, utilizing advanced genomic and cellular techniques to model neurodegenerative processes and identify disease-relevant pathways for therapeutic intervention.