Kathleen H. Burns

Kathleen H. Burns
Alma mater
Employer

Kathleen H. Burns, Ph.D., M.D., is a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Chair of the Department of Pathology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She previously worked at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. As of 2025, Burns became a co-editor of the Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease.[1] She is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation[2] and the Interurban Clinical Club[3] and has been given a Career Award for Medical Scientists by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.[4][5]

Early life and education

Kathleen Helen Burns was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi,[6] completing her degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry in 1997. She was accepted into the National Institutes of Health's Medical Scientist Training Program,[7] and completed her M.S.T.P. at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In 2004, she was recruited to become a clinical pathology resident (2004-2007) and later chief resident (2006-2007) at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.[8]

Career

Following her residency, Burns joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, rising to full professor in 2018.[9] In 2015 Burns became Deputy Director (Vice Chair) for Research and Programs for the Department of Pathology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also served as Director of the Physician-Scientist Training Program for the school.[10][9]

In 2020, Burns became Department Chair of the Department of Pathology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.[10] She also serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Pathology; Senior Hematopathologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.[11]

Research

External videos
video icon CSHL Keynote, Dr. Kathleen H Burns, Harvard University 2025.

Burns studies self-propagating retrotransposons and their role in human disease. Her research challenges the view that such elements are nonfunctional and serve as “junk DNA.” Her lab has developed techniques for mapping the mobile insertion sites of repetitive DNAs and transposable elements in the human genome. This research suggests that transposons play a role in cancer and in autoimmune diseases. LINE-1 expression is a characteristic of human cancers.[12] The Burns lab developed the first commercial monoclonal antibody for detection of LINE-1-encoded RNA-binding protein. Burns' research on LINE-1 expression seeks to develop new treatment approaches for cancer.[2][13][14][15]

Awards

Selected Publications

References

  1. ^ "Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease -- Current Editorial Committee". Annual Review. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Kathleen H. Burns, MD, PhD Photo: Kathleen Burns Interests/specialties: Pathology Resources: Pubmed Elected 2018". The American Society for Clinical Investigation. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Members". Interurban Clinical Club. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Advisory Committee". Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Kathleen Helen Burns". connects.catalyst.harvard.edu. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Department of Pathology Incoming House Staff, 2004-2005" (PDF). PathWays. Vol. 5, no. 5. 2004. p. 8. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Alumni | Honors College". The University of Southern Mississippi. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Kathleen Burns, M.D., Ph.D. | Johns Hopkins Pathology". Johns Hopkins. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Kathleen H. Burns". ORCID. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "The Tenth M. Daria Haust Lecturer" (PDF). Queen’s University. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Kathleen Burns, MD, PhD". Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  12. ^ Kwon, Diana (March 1, 2023). "Jumping Genes' Role in Cancer". The Scientist. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Kathleen H Burns". The Pathologist. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Ultrasensitive Blood Test Detects 'Pan-Cancer' Biomarker | Mass General Brigham". Mass General Brigham. Oct 6, 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Kathleen Burns". Harvard Division of Medical Sciences. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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