Dr. Cox is the Children’s Fund, Inc. Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Surgery and directs the Pediatric Surgical Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UTMSH). He also directs the Pediatric Trauma Program at the University of Texas-Houston/Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
Dr. Cox earned his M.D. degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed his surgery residency at the UTMSH. Further post-graduate fellowships were completed in pediatric surgery at the University of Michigan, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical and research fellowship in cardiopulmonary support/circulatory support devices/bio-hybrid organs at the Shriner’s Burn Institute, and surgical critical care/trauma at the UTMSH. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery in surgery, with added qualifications in pediatric surgery and surgical critical care.
The Pediatric Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine is a multi-disciplinary effort that focuses on progenitor cell-based therapy for traumatic brain injury and related neurological injuries, recently completing the first acute, autologous cell therapy treatment Phase I study for traumatic brain injury in children (Neurosurgery, 2011). The Program also develops novel bio-hybrid organs using cell-based and tissue engineering approaches to trauma- and injury-related problems. The program is funded through the NIH, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board/Emerging Technology Funds, Industry Collaboration, and philanthropic contributions.
Dr. Cox has served on scientific study sections/review groups for the NIH, American Heart Association, Veterans Affairs MERIT Awards, Department of Defense, and Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. He is the author of over 120 scientific publications, 20 book chapters, and is the editor of a text entitled, Progenitor Cell Therapy for Neurological Injury.