Russell J. Butterfield

Russell J. Butterfield, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine, with primary appointments in the Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, and an Adjunct Associate Professor role in Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. Board-certified in Neurology (with special qualification in child neurology) and Pediatrics, he specializes in neurogenetic and neuromuscular disorders with a focus on childhood-onset muscular dystrophies.

• PhD in Mammalian Genetics, University of Illinois
• MD, University of Illinois
• Residency in Pediatric Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine
• Fellowship in Neuromuscular Disorders, Muscular Dystrophy Association

His research focuses on genetic mechanisms of collagen VI myopathies (e.g., Bethlem myopathy, Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy), particularly genotype-phenotype relationships and molecular pathogenesis. He also investigates gene therapy applications (Fordadistrogene Movaparvovec, Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec), complement activation in DMD, and clinical trial readiness for splice-modulating therapies. Recent work includes analyzing lean tissue mass biomarkers in FSHD and evaluating corticosteroid treatment outcomes in DMD patients.