Dongsheng Duan

Dongsheng Duan is a Curators Distinguished Professor and Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor in Medical Research at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Neurology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the College of Engineering, reflecting his interdisciplinary research in gene therapy and neuromuscular diseases.

Dr. Duan earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. His research focuses on understanding and treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) through molecular and cellular biology, disease mechanisms, and genetic therapies. He has secured over $30 million in research funding, primarily from the NIH, supporting his pioneering work in rAAV-based gene therapy.

His research interests include recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transduction biology, Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy, Duchenne cardiomyopathy, canine models of muscular dystrophy, and the role of free radicals in muscle function and aging. His lab has made significant contributions to the development of micro-dystrophin gene therapies and the understanding of immune responses to AAV vectors.

The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational gene therapy research using canine models of DMD. His work spans vector design, immune response characterization, functional assessment, and biomarker discovery, with a clear trajectory toward clinical application. Key themes include optimizing microdystrophin expression, understanding immune barriers, and evaluating long-term outcomes in large animal models.

Dr. Duan has received numerous honors, including:

• Curators’ Distinguished Professor (2021)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020)
• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2019)
• Excellence in Research Mentoring Award (2017)
• Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research (2009)
• Outstanding New Investigator Award, American Society of Gene Therapy (2006)

He has served as an editor for major journals including Molecular Therapy, Frontiers in Genome Editing, and Human Gene Therapy, and has co-edited several books on muscle gene therapy. Dr. Duan is also an inventor on multiple patents related to DMD gene therapy and serves on scientific advisory boards for biotech companies. His lab is a leading center for preclinical evaluation of gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases.