Shelley Fried, PhD, is the Director of the Neural Prosthetic Research Laboratory and an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at both the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His extensive research is centered on the interactions between artificial stimulation and neurons in the CNS, focusing primarily on visual prostheses within the retina, thalamus, and primary visual cortex.

Dr. Fried aims to enhance our understanding of neural sensitivity to artificial stimulation and develop methods to more effectively replicate natural neural signaling patterns in non-functioning parts of the CNS. His innovative projects utilize various stimulation modalities including microelectrodes, high-frequency, magnetic, and optoacoustic stimulation. Additionally, he studies spike initiation mechanisms in retinal ganglion cells.

Dr. Fried earned his PhD in Vision Science from the University of California, Berkeley, investigating how the normal retina converts light into neural signals. His postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley and Massachusetts General Hospital involved the electric stimulation of the retina. Before his academic career, Dr. Fried spent 12 years in the medical device industry, focusing on anesthesia and respiratory therapy products. He also holds a position as a Health Scientist at the Boston VA Medical Center.

Awards & Recognitions

• 2017: Bartimaeus Award - awarded by the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology for service to the blind community through research in visual prosthesis

Experience

• Associate Professor (2015 - present)

  Neural Prosthetic Lab

  Massachusetts General Hospital

• Research Scientist (2006 - present)

  Boston Retinal Implant Project

• Director of Engineering & Manufacturing (1996 - 1999)

  Vital Signs

Education

• PhD, Vision Science (1999 - 2004)

  University of California, Berkeley

• MEng, Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering (1982 - 1984)

  Penn State University

• BEng, Mechanical Engineering (1978 - 1982)

  The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art