Marie Burdine

Dr. Marie Burdine serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, conducting research at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute where her laboratory occupies rooms R2114-1 (lab) and R2126-2129 (office).

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
• B.S. from Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR

Dr. Burdine's research program addresses two critical biomedical challenges: (1) epigenetic drivers of pancreatic cancer chemoresistance through ATAD2 protein analysis, targeting the disease's <5% five-year survival rate; and (2) DNA-PKcs-mediated immune regulation for transplant immunosuppression, addressing the severe organ shortage affecting 30,000+ annual US transplant recipients. Her laboratory employs murine models and molecular techniques to dissect chemoresistance pathways in pancreatic tumors and identify novel immunosuppressive targets.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a dominant focus on DNA-PKcs as a master immune regulator, with 12 of 15 articles exploring its role in T cell signaling, transplant rejection, and therapeutic inhibition. Key trends include development of next-generation inhibitors (e.g., DA-143), mechanistic studies on LAT-dependent signaling pathways, and translational applications for graft-versus-host disease prevention and organ transplant survival. These works consistently bridge molecular mechanisms with clinical applications in oncology and transplantation.

Her laboratory at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute utilizes advanced murine models to investigate epigenetic regulation in pancreatic cancer and DNA-PKcs functions in immune responses, with particular emphasis on translating basic discoveries into therapeutic strategies for chemoresistant cancers and transplant rejection.