Dean Burkin, Faculty, Pharmacology Department, University of Nevada, Reno


		DEAN J BURKIN, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Ph.D., Colorado, 1994 Location: Manville 19 Email: dburkinmedicine.nevada.edu Tel: 775 784-6288 Fax: 775 784-1620 Research Interests The development of the neuromuscular junction requires the orchestrated assembly of protein complexes. Defects in genes encoding neuromuscular proteins often result in neuromuscular disease. Children with neuromuscular disease exhibit developmental delay, are confined to a wheelchair, and often die prematurely. Although a number of proteins have been identified that participate in neuromuscular development, the signaling events that regulate this process remain unclear. What is certain is that communication, mediated by nerve and muscle extracellular matrix proteins and cell surface receptors, including integrins, are crucial to this process. Our research aims to define the signaling pathway(s) initiated by integrins during neuromuscular development. Understanding these pathways may lead to insights into neuromuscular disease and provide new avenues for future therapies. View the publications of Dr Burkin on PubMed