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Dr Maryam Esmaeili
Teams and roles for Maryam Esmaeili
Post-doctoral Research Associate
Overview
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Dr. Ben Mead's lab, investigating the role of microRNAs (miRNA) in glaucoma, with the aim of identifying and pre-clinically testing candidate miRNA-based therapies through the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into retinal cells.
Publication
2025
- Durmaz, E., Esmaeli, M., Lewis, P., Cimaglia, G., Clayton, A. and Mead, B. 2025. R-28 cell-derived extracellular vesicles protect retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. Neural Regeneration Research 10, article number: 4103. (10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00709)
2024
- Esmaeili, M., Smith, D. A. and Mead, B. 2024. miRNA changes associated with differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into human retinal ganglion cells. Scientific Reports 14(1), article number: 31895. (10.1038/s41598-024-83381-9)
- Esmaeili, M. and Mead, B. 2024. Differentiation of human embryonic/induced-pluripotent stem cells to retinal ganglion cells.. In: Mead, B. ed. Retinal Ganglion Cells: Methods and Proctocols., Vol. 2708. Methods in Molecular Biology New York, NY: Humana Press, Springer, pp. 41-48., (10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_5)
2019
- Chouhan, G. et al. 2019. A self-healing hydrogel eye drop for the sustained delivery of decorin to prevent corneal scarring.. Biomaterials 210, pp. 41-50. (10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.04.013)
2018
- Cooke, M. E. et al. 2018. Structuring of hydrogels across multiple length scales for biomedical applications. Advanced Materials 30(14), article number: 1705013. (10.1002/adma.201705013)
2015
- Vigneswara, V., Esmaeili, M., Deer, L., Berry, M., Logan, A. and Ahmed, Z. 2015. Eye drop delivery of pigment epithelium-derived factor-34 promotes retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection and axon regeneration.. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 68, pp. 212-221. (10.1016/j.mcn.2015.08.001)
2014
- Esmaeili, M., Berry, M., Logan, A. and Ahmed, Z. 2014. Decorin treatment of spinal cord injury.. Neural Regeneration Research 9(18), pp. 1653-1656. (10.4103/1673-5374.141797)
- Ahmed, Z. et al. 2014. Decorin blocks scarring and cystic cavitation in acute and induces scar dissolution in chronic spinal cord wounds.. Neurobiology of Disease 64, pp. 163-176. (10.1016/j.nbd.2013.12.008)
Articles
- Durmaz, E., Esmaeli, M., Lewis, P., Cimaglia, G., Clayton, A. and Mead, B. 2025. R-28 cell-derived extracellular vesicles protect retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. Neural Regeneration Research 10, article number: 4103. (10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00709)
- Esmaeili, M., Smith, D. A. and Mead, B. 2024. miRNA changes associated with differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into human retinal ganglion cells. Scientific Reports 14(1), article number: 31895. (10.1038/s41598-024-83381-9)
- Chouhan, G. et al. 2019. A self-healing hydrogel eye drop for the sustained delivery of decorin to prevent corneal scarring.. Biomaterials 210, pp. 41-50. (10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.04.013)
- Cooke, M. E. et al. 2018. Structuring of hydrogels across multiple length scales for biomedical applications. Advanced Materials 30(14), article number: 1705013. (10.1002/adma.201705013)
- Vigneswara, V., Esmaeili, M., Deer, L., Berry, M., Logan, A. and Ahmed, Z. 2015. Eye drop delivery of pigment epithelium-derived factor-34 promotes retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection and axon regeneration.. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 68, pp. 212-221. (10.1016/j.mcn.2015.08.001)
- Esmaeili, M., Berry, M., Logan, A. and Ahmed, Z. 2014. Decorin treatment of spinal cord injury.. Neural Regeneration Research 9(18), pp. 1653-1656. (10.4103/1673-5374.141797)
- Ahmed, Z. et al. 2014. Decorin blocks scarring and cystic cavitation in acute and induces scar dissolution in chronic spinal cord wounds.. Neurobiology of Disease 64, pp. 163-176. (10.1016/j.nbd.2013.12.008)
Book sections
- Esmaeili, M. and Mead, B. 2024. Differentiation of human embryonic/induced-pluripotent stem cells to retinal ganglion cells.. In: Mead, B. ed. Retinal Ganglion Cells: Methods and Proctocols., Vol. 2708. Methods in Molecular Biology New York, NY: Humana Press, Springer, pp. 41-48., (10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_5)
Biography
Honours and awards
- PhD in Clinical and Experimental Medicine- University of Birmingham, UK (2014-2018)
- MSc in Biochemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK (2010-2011)
- BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (2004-2008)
Academic positions
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University (Aug 2022-present)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Depatment of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham (July 2018-July 2022)
- Research Technician, Medical School, University of Birmingham (June 2014-June 2018)
- Research Scientist, Neuregenix Ltd, University of Birmingham, UK (Sep 2013- May 2014)
Speaking engagements
- Early Career Researcher Summit (13th June 2025), London, UK (Poster)
- Dubai stem cell congress (25-26th Feb 2025)- Dubai (Poster)
- Early Career Neuroscientists’ Day (23rd October 2024), Bristol, UK
- RSC Biomaterials Chemistry Meeting (7-8th Jan 2016), Birmingham, UK (Poster)
- The ARVO Annual Meeting (1st-5th May 2016), Seattle, WA, USA (Poster)
Contact Details
EsmaeiliM@cardiff.ac.uk
Optometry and Vision Sciences, Room 2.45, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Optometry and Vision Sciences, Room 2.45, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- Regenerative medicine
- Animal cell and molecular biology
- Stem cells
- Biochemistry and cell biology
- Biomaterials