Sarah K. Pixley

Sarah K. Pixley is a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology. Her research has evolved from studying olfactory neurogenesis and neuropharmacology to pioneering the use of biomaterials like magnesium and carbon nanotubes for neural tissue repair.

Education:

• PhD in Anatomy, University of California at Los Angeles (1983)
• MS in Physiology, UCLA (1975)
• Associate's in Zoology, Smith College (1974)
• Postdoctoral: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (1987) and University of California (1985)

Research Interests:
Current work focuses on magnesium-based biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair and biodegradable implants, leveraging magnesium's bioresorbable properties and neuroprotective effects. Collaborations with engineers and surgeons explore zinc-iron alloys for nerve scaffolds. Earlier, her lab investigated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as scaffolds for neuronal growth and repair, including neural stem cell differentiation along CNT threads.

Grants:

• NSF Engineering Research Center: "Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials" (2008–2019)
• AAHS Peripheral Nerve Repair Grant (2013–2014)
• NSF LEAF Grant: Magnesium-Containing Fabric (2015–2016)
• NIH Grant: Multi-Cue Piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE for Nerve Repair (2024–2028)
• Ben-Gurion University: Zn Alloy Scaffold (2019–2020)
• VA Intergovernmental Personnel Act Agreement (2013)
• Janssen Pharmaceutica: Neuroprotective Effects of Paliperidone (2005–2007)
• National Institute on Deafness: Olfactory Receptor Neuron Differentiation (1994–1999)

Labs/Collaborations:
Pixley's lab collaborates with surgeons, neurobiologists, and engineers, particularly through the NSF ERC. Her team investigates biodegradable magnesium filaments, carbon nanotube scaffolds, and electrochemical sensors for monitoring implant degradation.