Michael Burton

Dr. Michael Burton is an Associate Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), holding the endowed Eugene McDermott Professorship. He leads the Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab, focusing on the interplay between immune and nervous systems in pain, metabolic, and reproductive physiology. His work investigates lifestyle factors (diet, alcohol, surgery) and their effects on neuroimmune interactions across genders and ages.

Dr. Burton earned his PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and completed postdoctoral training in hypothalamic research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He joined UT Dallas in 2017 as an Assistant Professor, later becoming a founding member of the Center for Advanced Pain Studies and an affiliate of the Center for Vital Longevity.

His research emphasizes translational neuroimmunology, including studies on TLR4 signaling in pain pathways, metabolic stress, and the role of microglia in neuroinflammation. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles and secured grants such as the NIH K22 award and the Mitchell Max Pain Research Award.

• Awards: Society for Neuroscience Rising Star, Congressional Recognition (2021), Rita Allen Foundation Fellowship
• Grants: NIH Pain Consortium, NINDS K22
• Labs/Initiatives: Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab, UT Dallas Center for Advanced Pain Studies

Recent studies explore spatial transcriptomics of human dorsal root ganglia, sex differences in neuroimmune responses, and biomarkers for chronic postsurgical pain. His work advocates for diversity in science and integrates clinical and preclinical models to advance pain therapeutics.