EDUCATION

1989, B.S., Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
1995, Ph.D., Anatomy, University of Cambridge
1995, Post-doctoral Fellow, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College, London
1995-1997, Post-doctoral Associate, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Projects

Bioengineering and Stem Cells to Treat Optic Neuropathy

Differentiation of Retinal Progenitor Cells into Specific Cell Types

Repair of the Diseased Retina: Cell Rescue and Transplantation

selected  PUBLICATIONS

1. Klassen, H., Ng, T.F., Kurimoto, Y., Kirov, I., Shatos, M., Coffey, P. and Young, M. J. (2004) Multipotent retinal progenitors express developmental markers, differentiate into retinal neurons, and preserve light-mediated behavior." Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 45 (11):4167-4173.
2. Lavik, E. B. ,H. Klassen, K. Warfvinge, R. Langer, and Young M. J. . (2005) Fabrication of Degradable Polymer Scaffolds to Direct the Integration and Differentiation of Retinal Progenitors. Biomaterials, 26 (16):3187-96.
3. Warfvinge K, Kiilgaard JF, Lavik E, Scherfig E, Langer R, Klassen H, Young MJ. (2005) Retinal progenitor cell xenografts to the pig retina: morphological integration and cytochemical differentiation. Arch.    Ophthalmol, 123:1385-1393.
4. Tomita, M., Lavik, E., Zahir, T., Klassen, Langer, R., and Young, M. 2005. Retinal progenitor cell transplantation using biodegradable polymers. Stem Cells 23:1579-1588.
5. Ford MC, Bertram JP , Hynes S, Michaud M, Li Q, Young MJ, Segal SS, Madri JA, Lavik EB. A novel macroporous hydrogel for the co-culture of  neural progenitor and endothelial cells to form functional vascular networks in vivo. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (in press)

Patents
Young MJ, et al, US Patent pending “Isolation of retinal stem cells.”
Young MJ, et al, US Patent pending “Composite graft.”
Young MJ, et al, US Patent pending “Photoreceptor rescue following intra-vitreal IL-Ib injections.”