Ava Puccio, RN, PhD

Ava M. Puccio, RN, PhD, is an associate professor with tenure in the Department of Neurological Surgery and also co-director of the Neurotrauma Clinical Trials Center in collaboration with David O. Okonkwo, MD, PhD. 

Dr. Puccio received her bachelor of science in neuroscience and nursing as well as her doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation examined focusing on brain oxygenation and oxidative stress biomarkers. She has continued this translational work in the severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) population having an instrumental role in the current Phase 3 clinical trial, ‘Brain Oxygenation Optimization in Severe TBI Phase 3 (BOOST3)’ study, comparing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring only to ICP and brain oxygenation therapies. She was the recipient of a K99/R00 award from the National Institutes of Health exploring the genetic underpinnings of secondary injury. She has over 25+ years of clinical trial design, involvement and management, with several completed and ongoing traumatic brain and spine injury research studies.

As an early adopter of team science, Dr. Puccio has been involved in the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI) network since its inception and is the principal investigator of the National TBI Biospecimens Repository. She is also instrumental in multiple collaborative initiatives in biomarker exploration and validation within TRACK-TBI, BioBOOST, BioHOBIT and others.

Dr. Puccio’s specialized areas of interest are focused on improving outcomes in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury patients, with clinical venues of controlled normothermia, mechanisms of brain oxygenation and exploring biomarker and genetic expression. 

Dr. Puccio values training the next generation of scientists. Her previous mentees include undergraduates, medical students, residents, clinical fellow and academic postdoctoral students. 

In June of 2025, Dr. Puccio received the Mary Ann Liebert Award for Science from the National Neurotrauma Society. This career achievement award recognizes a female researcher who has made notable scientific contributions in the field of neurotrauma and who has made recent impactful contributions to education, mentoring or advocacy.

Dr. Puccio has leadership positions in TRACK-TBI, Neurocritical Care Society and is a reviewer for the NIH, Department of Defense and several foundations. She is involved in many working groups including the NINDS Common Data Element (CDE) Working Group TBI

Dr. Puccio's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.