Juan Carlos Martinez, MD, is a trained ophthalmic surgeon, specializing in clinical and surgical retina. Dr. Martinez works at the interface of medicine and biomedical engineering, focusing on the development of novel ophthalmic therapeutics. His multidisciplinary translational research includes drug development of new therapies to improve and treat diabetic retinopathy and choroidal neovascularization. As a scientist at the USC Ginsburg Institute of Biomedical Therapeutics, Dr. Martinez conducted preclinical studies on a novel implantable biomedical device, which delivers oxygen to the nearby ischemic retina. In addition, in collaboration with Dr. Mark Humayun, Dr. Martinez evaluated a novel ocular device for vision loss in patients with retinal hypoxia which reduces retinal oxygen consumption in dark conditions. Dr. Martinez is also a part of the California Project to Cure Blindness team, conducting preclinical studies and imaging for a stem cell-based therapy for advanced dry age-related macular degeneration.

Juan Carlos Martinez, MD has numerous publications and book chapters as was also co-editor of three books covering a wide range of areas from refractive surgery to selected topics in ophthalmology. Before moving to California and joining USC, Dr. Martinez was an Associate Professor in the retina and vitreous fellowship and ophthalmology residency programs at the Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico City).