C. Edward Dixon, PhD

  • Neurotrauma Chair Professor
  • Vice Chair, Research
  • Director, Brain Trauma Research Center

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, Mich. 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 is a member of the advisory committee for PRE Clinical Interagency reSearch resourcE-TBI (PRECISE-TBI). As part of the PRECISE-TBI, he directs the Preclinical Model Catalogue Core and is a member of the working group for preclinical common data elements Dr. Dixon served as president of the National Neurotrauma Society for the 2002-03 term and continued as councilor of the society for terms 2004-07 and 2009-12. 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 252 papers in refereed journals, two books (coeditor), 29 book chapters, and two editorials.

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

Specialized Areas of Interest

Mechanisms of induction and recovery of functional deficits following traumatic brain injury; neurotransmitter agonist therapies for recovery of post traumatic functional deficits; models of traumatic brain injury; clinical studies of pharmacotherapy.

Professional Organization Membership

American Association for the Advancement of Science
International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
National Neurotrauma Society (Charter Member)
Pittsburgh Chapter of Society for Neuroscience
Society for Neuroscience

Professional Activities

TBI Model Core Director, PRE Clinical Interagency reSearch resourcE-TBI
Scientific Board Member, Texas Institute for Rehabilitation Research
Grant Reviewer, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Study Section Member, Kentucky Spinal Cord & Head Injury Study Section
Member Conflict Panel, National Institute of Health

Education & Training

  • BA, Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1981
  • MS, Physiology/Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1984
  • PhD, Physiology/Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1985
  • NIH-NHRSA Fellow, Medical College of Virginia, 1986
  • Fellowship, General Motor Research Laboratories, 1987

Media Appearances