Wesley Burks, MD

Professor of Pediatrics

Division Chief, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Department:
Pediatrics

Division:
Allergy and Immunology

Mailing Address:
DUMC 2644 Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone:
919-668-4000

Office Telephone:
919-681-2949

Fax:
919-668-3750

Training:
MD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, 1980

Fellowship:
Allergy and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, 1983-1985

Residency:
Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1980-1983

Clinical Interests:
Asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy and other childhood allergic diseases, special interest in anaphylaxis and food allergy

Research Interests:
Dr. Burks' research is on the characterization of food allergens at the molecular level and on approaches to therapy. He is currently internationally recognized as one of the leaders in the world in research in the field of food hypersensitivity. The three areas of focus within his laboratory are to: (1) understand the mechanism of food allergy, (2) improve the diagnosis of food allergy in children, and (3) develop immune therapy for food allergy. Methodology of the laboratory includes in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, analysis of lymphocyte phenotypes, T cell cloning, specific immunoglobulin production, allergen identification, purification, allergen gene cloning and mutation of allergen genes. Studies ongoing currently include those in peanut, milk and egg allergy.  Animal models of peanut allergy have been developed in C3H/HeJ mice.  Studies with immune therapy in this mouse model are ongoing, with the goal being to develop a vaccine to prevent future peanut allergic reactions in already sensitized mice.

Publications:
Kulis M, Pons L, Burks AW. In vivo and T cell cross-reactivity between walnut, cashew and peanut. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2009;148(2):109-17.

Jones SM, Pons L, Roberts JL, Scurlock AM, Perry TT, Kulis M, Shreffler WG, Steele P, Henry KA, Adair M, Francis JM, Durham S, Vickery BP, Zhong X, Burks AW. Clinical efficacy and immune regulation with peanut oral immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Jul 2.

Hofmann AM, Scurlock AM, Jones SM, Palmer KP, Lokhnygina Y, Steele PH, Kamilaris J, Burks AW. Safety of a peanut oral immunotherapy protocol in children with peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 May 26.

Burks AW. Early peanut consumption: postpone or promote? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Feb;123(2):424-5.

Burks AW. Peanut allergy. Lancet. 2008 May 3;371(9623):1538-46.

Burks AW. Factoring PAF in anaphylaxis. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jan 3;358(1):79-81.