Kevin Dean

Kevin Dean is an Assistant Professor at the UT Southwestern Medical Center, affiliated with the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics and the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Systems Biology. His research focuses on developing and applying advanced microscopy techniques to address complex biological challenges, particularly in cancer metastasis and cellular mechanobiology.

• Co-developer of autonomous 'self-driving' microscopes using computer vision
• Expert in spectral unmixing and cyclic immunofluorescence for molecular multiplexing
• Creator of high-throughput histopathology systems with 300 nm resolution
• Collaborator with leading scientists (Drs. Danuser, Fiolka, Morrison, Amatruda, Sorger)
• Principal Investigator for NIH/NCI-funded cancer imaging programs

Research Themes:
The Dean Lab specializes in cutting-edge imaging solutions that bridge technology development and biological discovery. Their work spans:

• Cancer Biology: Metastatic colonization mechanisms, tumor microenvironment imaging
• Biomedical Technology: Light-sheet microscopy, optical probes, time-series analysis software
• Cellular Mechanobiology: Force-driven morphogenesis, matrix deformation quantification
• Neuroscience: Stress-induced anhedonia, lateral habenula neuronal signaling

Grant Leadership:
Dean serves as Principal Investigator for the NCI-funded Imaging Mechanisms of Metastatic Tumor Formation and the NIGMS-supported UTSW-UNC Center for Cell Signaling Analysis, where his team develops open-source platforms like Navigate for smart light-sheet microscopy.

Collaborative Networks:
Active in multiple interdisciplinary programs including:

• Prune Belly Syndrome research with Filamin A mutations
• Drosophila germband extension mechanobiology with micro-cantilevers
• Lateral habenula functional mapping with multi-modal imaging