Robert Burgess, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert Burgess studies the molecular mechanisms of synapse formation, development and maintenance in peripheral neuromuscular junctions and retina. For this project, he will determine how dominant mutations in glycyl tRNA synthetase cause peripheral axon degeneration in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system for which there is currently no treatment. In addition to developing therapies for this disease, a better understanding of this type of neurodegeneration may also suggest therapeutic strategies for other common disorders with related complications, such as diabetic or chemotherapy-induced neuropathies.