Dustin Brisson

Dr. Dustin Brisson is a Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Evolution and Ecology of Disease Systems Laboratory and the Biology Master's Program. His research focuses on disease ecology, molecular evolution, and microbial evolution, particularly studying the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. He integrates ecological, genetic, and computational approaches to understand pathogen dynamics in natural host populations and their implications for human health.

Education: Ph.D., Stony Brook University (2006).

Research highlights include investigating host-pathogen interactions, tick ecology, and the evolutionary mechanisms maintaining genetic diversity in pathogens. Key projects involve modeling Lyme disease risk, developing vaccines (e.g., mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines), and advancing molecular diagnostic tools like Luminex-based genotyping.

• Key Awards: Burroughs Wellcome Fellow
• Labs/Teams: Disease Ecology and Evolution @ Penn Labs (part of the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, CAMB).
• Grants & Funding: Active in securing funding for Lyme disease research, including citizen science-based tick surveillance projects.
• Collaborations: Cross-disciplinary work with microbiologists, ecologists, and computational scientists at UPenn's Medical and Veterinary schools.

His work emphasizes public health applications, such as reducing Lyme disease risk through reservoir-targeted vaccines and improving diagnostic accuracy via genomic amplification techniques.