Ezra Burstein

Ezra Burstein, M.D., Ph.D., serves as Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Chief of its Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. His academic career spans appointments in both the Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Biology, with leadership roles in gastrointestinal research and clinical care.

Dr. Burstein received his medical degree from Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru, completed internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern, advanced gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Michigan, and immunology research fellowship at the NIH Vaccine Research Center. He joined UT Southwestern faculty in 2008 after prior academic service at the University of Michigan (2002-2008), and earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Groningen in 2013.

His research focuses on molecular immunology mechanisms controlling inflammatory responses, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease. Key areas include endolysosomal system regulation, enteroendocrine cell roles in host-microbial interactions, and genetic determinants of abnormal immunity. His laboratory discovered the COMMD protein family and elucidated their functions in NF-kB regulation, endosomal sorting, and copper homeostasis, with recent work identifying cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrids as interferon pathway regulators.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals persistent investigation into endosomal trafficking complexes (Retriever-CCC), genetic disorders affecting immune function, microbiome-host metabolism interactions, and novel therapeutic approaches for inflammatory bowel disease, demonstrating consistent thematic focus on molecular mechanisms of inflammation with increasing translational applications.

Dr. Burstein maintains active membership in leading professional organizations including the American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society for Cell Biology, and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, reflecting his multidisciplinary research impact.

As Principal Investigator of the Burstein Lab, he leads research teams investigating inflammatory disease mechanisms while overseeing clinical division responsibilities. His laboratory work integrates molecular genetics, cell biology, and immunology approaches to address fundamental questions in gastrointestinal disease pathogenesis.