University of Pittsburgh

C. Edward Dixon, PhD

Professor of Neurological Surgery, Anesthesiology, Neurobiology & Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The Neurotrauma Chair in Neurosurgery
Vice Chairman, Research
Director, Brain Trauma Research Center
Research Health Scientist at the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center in the Veteran’s Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System
Home › People › 





	
	


			

		headshot	
		

		
	
Contact

	
			

		412-383-2188	
		

		
			

		dixonec@upmc.edu	
		

		
		
		
		
		
	


 
Biography
 	

	
C. Edward Dixon, PhD, received his PhD degree in physiological psychology from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1985. That year, he was awarded a National Research Service Award for Postdoctoral Fellows by the National Institutes of Health and joined the Division of Neurological Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia.
In 1986, he became a postdoctoral fellow in the Biomedical Science Department of the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, MI. Dr. Dixon was named assistant professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Virginia in 1987 and became an assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston in 1991.
In 1995, he joined the Brain Trauma Research Center in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh as associate professor. He became the director of the center in October 2002.
Dr. Dixon received his adjunct faculty positions with the Department of Anesthesiology in 1995; the Department of Neurobiology in 2000 and the Department of Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation in 2003.
In 2001, he became a co-director of the Safar Center for Resuscitative Research. In May of 2004, Dr. Dixon was named full professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and was later appointed vice chairman of research in the Department of Neurological Surgery in 2008.
In 2011, Dr. Dixon was honored with one of the highest honors the university can present a faculty member when he was awarded The Neurotrauma Chair in Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Dixon served as president of the National Neurotrauma Society for the 2002-2003 term and continued as councilor of the society for terms 2004-2007 and 2009-2012. He also has continued as a study section participant of several public and private grant review panels. His research has dealt primarily with mechanisms of post-traumatic memory deficits, rodent models of traumatic brain injury, and functional outcomes.
Dr. Dixon has published 157 papers in refereed journals, one book (co-editor), 25 book chapters, and two editorials.
Dr. Dixon's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.
Professional Organization Membership
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
International Neurotrauma Society
National Neurotrauma Society (Charter Member)
Pittsburgh Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
Society for Neuroscience
WINTR (Women in Neurotrauma Research)
Media Appearances 
What hit her? The repercussions of traumatic brain injury are becoming clearer
Spring 2011
University of Pittsburgh PittMed
	
	





	
Research Activities
	
	

	
Dr. Dixon has made substantial progress in his project to examine the effects of TBI on striatal dopamine signaling. He has published a study that demonstrated that TBI produces decreases in striatal phospho-DARPP-32 that are associated with downstream changes in the protein phosphatase 1 pathway. Upstream to DARPP-32, he has measured striatal Protein kinase A (PKA) and found an initial decrease followed by a more chronic (two weeks) increase in protein levels. He has completed and published a study showing that nicotine, an activator of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) can attenuate TBI-induced deficits in dopamine neurotransmission. Dr. Dixon has also completed a study demonstration the potassium-evoked striatal DA release deficits can be attenuated by dietary post-injury treatment with fish oil. Lastly, he has made progress in evaluated the effects of TBI in DARPP-32 knock-out mice.