International scientists, colleagues and friends have celebrated the 40-year career of Dr Linda Dixon at a special symposium at The Pirbright Institute.
Dr Dixon, who recently retired from leading the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) group, is amongst the most highly cited researchers in the field, with a career spanning molecular and cell biology, virology and vaccinology.
Speakers at the event included scientists from prestigious Institutions in Europe and the UK: PD Dr Sandra Blome, research leader and Deputy Head of the Institute of Diagnostic Virology Friedrich Loeffler Institute; Professor Simon Davis, Chair of Molecular Immunology at the University of Oxford, and Dr Yolanda Revilla, from the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spanish Higher Research Council (CSIC). Drs Chris Netherton and Ana Reis from Pirbright also presented.
Dr Revilla said: “We are delighted to congratulate Linda on her long career. We have all learnt a lot from her over many years, and she has made a huge impact in our field of research.”
Professor Geoffrey Smith, Principal Investigator at the University of Oxford and chair of Pirbright’s Science Advisory Board, said: “Many warm congratulations on Linda’s terrific career, she has left a lasting legacy for sure. The thing that came across me today was the warmth of feeling that people have for her as a person.
It has been a real pleasure working with Linda. She has left a legacy that will ensure ASF research continues strongly at Pirbright and in many places around the world. I wish her a very happy retirement.”
Dr Dixon moved from a postdoctoral position in Switzerland to Pirbright, then named the Animal Virus Research Institute, in 1985. Her work is focused on the functional genomics of ASFV aimed at understanding mechanisms of immune evasion and pathogenesis, whilst her group has also focused on research underpinning the development of effective vaccines.
Dr Linda Dixon in the early days of her career. Credit: Linda Dixon.
Speaking at the symposium, Dr Dixon said: “This event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate my career. It was exciting to hear current and future research from leading scientists in our field and to meet so many collaborators, colleagues and friends.”
The Director of The Pirbright Institute, Prof Bryan Charleston MRCVS FRS, who has himself served three decades at Pirbright, congratulated his longstanding colleague on her career and presented a gift from friends and colleagues to mark the occasion.
“Linda has been working at the Institute for over 40 years and has made tremendous progress in that time in understanding African swine fever virus, as well as many aspects of cell biology and control of viral infections. As one of the world’s most cited ASFV researchers, Linda is an outstanding scientist who provides advice to UK Government and other countries as a national and World Organisation for Animal Health expert. Dr Dixon’s long-term research and dedication has helped to develop global scientific knowledge, and we are truly grateful for her lifelong contribution to the Institute.”
In addition to her Pirbright work, Dr Dixon is a member of the Asfarviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses and is a Jenner Institute Investigator.
