Ezra Burstein

Ezra Burstein, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Chief of the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He holds a medical degree from Cayetano Heredia University (Peru) and completed residency training in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern, followed by a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Michigan and a research fellowship in immunology at the NIH. He also earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Groningen, Netherlands in 2013.

His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of inflammation, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and investigates endosomal trafficking, enteroendocrine-microbial interactions, and genetic determinants of immune dysfunction. Key contributions include discoveries related to the COMMD protein family, endosomal recycling pathways, and cytokine regulation. Dr. Burstein’s work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with studies published in high-impact journals such as Nature, Nature Communications, and Journal of Clinical Investigation.

He is active in professional organizations including the American Gastroenterological Association and serves as a leader in academic medicine. His lab collaborates on projects addressing inflammatory mechanisms, microbiome interactions, and translational therapies for gastrointestinal diseases.