Dr. Scott Dixon

Biography

Scott Dixon is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University. He received his B.Sc. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Laurentian University in 2000 and his Ph.D. in Molecular Medical Genetics from the University of Toronto in 2007. His research focuses on genetic networks that regulate cell viability, particularly in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and single-celled eukaryotes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. He has demonstrated that small molecules like erastin can inhibit the membrane cystine/glutamate transporter system xc-, depleting cell glutathione and activating a novel iron-dependent cell death pathway known as ferroptosis. His current research program integrates advanced techniques in model systems, small molecule proteomic screenings, biochemical analyses, and genetics to understand the mechanisms underlying the interaction between intracellular metabolism and cell death.

Research Interests