Anton Lennikov, MD, PhD

Schepens Eye Research Institute

Dr. Anton Lennikov is an Instructor in Ophthalmology at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, and a biomedical scientist specializing in ocular pathology, retinal degeneration, and neuroinflammation. Trained as a physician in Russia and earning his Ph.D. in Medical Science from Hokkaido University in Japan, Dr. Lennikov has held research positions across premier institutions including Johns Hopkins, Linköping University, and the University of Missouri. His research centers on the role of retinal microglia in neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, with a specific focus on how microglia contribute to pathological angiogenesis and retinal dysfunction. With over 50 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature Biotechnology, FASEB Journal, Angiogenesis, Frontiers in Immunology, and Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Dr. Lennikov is widely recognized for his work on microglia-targeted therapies and electrical stimulation as a noninvasive strategy to preserve vision. His projects have received funding from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and the Massachusetts Lions Foundation, and he holds several patents, including innovations in neuroprotective compounds and therapeutic electrical stimulation protocols. His technical skills span immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, Western blotting, cell signaling, and advanced in vivo and ex vivo models. Dr. Lennikov serves as Associate Editor for BMC Ophthalmology and Topic Editor for Frontiers in Immunology, and he actively reviews for more than 20 international journals. Fluent in Russian, English, and Japanese, he brings a global perspective to vision science. His long-term mission is to develop novel microglia-based therapies to improve outcomes for patients who do not respond to current anti-VEGF treatments, contributing to the broader goal of preventing blindness and enhancing quality of life worldwide.