Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering
Biography:
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Mark received a BEng. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Limerick in 2001, a MSc. in Cell and Tissue Engineering from Keele University (United Kingdom) in 2003 and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Keele University in 2007. His PhD research focused on the development of a novel spherical indentation system to characterise the mechanical behaviour of cell seeded hydrogels. He subsequently worked as a post-doctoral research associate for three years at Keele University where he developed an in vitro corneal wound healing model for pharmaceutical screening. Mark joined the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE) as a post-doctoral research fellow in October 2010 to primarily work on developing a growth factor delivery scaffold for cartilage repair. In June 2012, he commenced work as a research fellow in TCBE in the field of corneal tissue engineering and cornea repair. In May 2014, he was appointed senior research fellow. In 2015, he was awarded an ERC starting grant to pursue research on corneal regeneration. In 2016, he was appointed Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering. |
Research Overview:
Treatment of corneal blindness represents a massive challenge globally. My research is focused on understanding the cell behaviour, engineering novel biomaterials and translating this research into therapies for corneal regeneration. More specifically my research has focused on the following:
• Isolation and differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells into corneal cells
• Examination of the influence that physical and chemical stimuli have on corneal stromal cells
• Development of decellularized corneal scaffold and hydrogels
• Design of a ocular bioreactor system
• Fabrication of a novel nanofiber-hydrogel constructs for corneal regeneration
• Examination of extracellular matrix mechanical remodelling by corneal fibroblasts
Research Funding:
2015-2020: European Research Council Starting Grant
2012-2016: Starting Investigator Research Grant (Funded by Science Foundation Ireland & Marie-Curie COFUND)
Select Recent Publications:
• Lynch AP, Ahearne M. Retinoic acid enhances the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells towards a keratocyte phenotype in vitro. Trans Vis Sci Tech. 2017; 6(6):1-11.
• Lynch AP, O'Sullivan F, Ahearne M. Effect of growth factor supplementation on corneal stromal cell phenotype in vitro using serum free media. Exp Eye Res 2016; 151:26-37.
• Lynch AP, Wilson SL, Ahearne M. Dextran preserves native corneal structure during decellularization. Tissue Eng C. 2016; 22:561-72.
• Ahearne M. Coyle A. Application of UVA-riboflavin crosslinking to enhance the mechanical properties of extracellular matrix derived hydrogels. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2016; 54: 259-67.
Contact Information:
• Address: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
• Email: ahearnm@tcd.ie