Professor
Division of Human Anatomy
Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy
School of Medicine
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350
U.S.A
Phone: 909-558-8117
E-mail: mkirby@llu.edu

Research Interest
Neuroscience (Neurophysiology and Neuroanatomy) with special concentration in Developmental Neurobiology, neural mechanisms in labor and parturition.
Current Projects:
- The ontogeny of ganglion cell class in the fetal monkey retina.
- The centro-peripheral gradient of retinal ganglion cell maturation in the fetal monkey.
- Genetic determinants of ganglion cell proliferation.
- Morphogenesis of retinal ganglion cells during formation of the fovea in the rhesus macaque.
- Effects of microbeam proton irradiation on the LGN of the cat central nervous system.
- Effects of microbeam proton irradiation on the developing central nervous system of the cat.
- Functional and structural reorganization of the cat's retinocollicular projection following fetal enucleation.
- Morphological maturation of horizontal cells in the retina of fetal rhesus monkey.
- Photoreceptor distribution in the retina of the baboon.
- Topographic organization of the retinocollicular projections in the fetal cat.
- Functional reorganization of the primate fovea following cortical destruction.
- Neural Mechanisms Controlling Parturition
Selected Publications
- Michael A Kirby, Anne C Heuerman BS and Steven M Yellon (2018). Utility of Optical Density of Picrosirius Red Birefringence for Analysis of Cross-Linked Collagen in Remodeling of the Peripartum Cervix for Parturition. Integr Gyn Obstet J Volume 1(2): 1–5. PMC6117116
- The Rise of Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, Basic Science to Clinical Care, 2018, 2nd edition, pp. 1-860. Author, Lawrence D. Longo (posthumously), with Kent Thornburg (Foreword). Senior Eds., S Yellon, M.A. Kirby, with R. Goyal, C. P. Gheorghe, J. Alonso, co-editors. Publisher: Springer, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4939-7483-2.
- M.A. Kirby, Ph.D., A. C. Heuerman, M.Custer, A. E. Dobyns1, R. Strilaeff, K.N. Stutz, J. Cooperrider, J. G. Elsissy, and Steven M. Yellon (2016). Progesterone receptor–mediated actions regulate remodeling of the cervix in preparation for preterm parturition. Reprod. Sci., 23(11), p.1-11. PubMed PMID: 27233754
- S.M. Yellon, A.E. Dobyns, H.L.Beck, J.T. Kurtzman, R.E. Garfield, M.A. Kirby (2013). Loss of progesterone receptor-mediated actions induce preterm cellular and structural remodeling of the cervix and premature birth. PLOS ONE, 8, issue 12, p.1-9. PubMed PMID: 24339918
- Clyde, L.A., Lechuga, T.J., Ebner, Charlotte, A., Burns, A.E., Kirby, M.A., Yellon, S.M. (2011). Transection of the pelvic or Vagus nerve forestalls ripening of the cervix and delays birth in rats. Biol. Reprod., 84, 587-594. PMID: 21106964
- S.M. Yellon, L.A. Grisham, G. Rambau, T.J. Lechuga, M.A. Kirby (2010). Pregnancy-related reduction in connections from the cervix to forebrain and hypothalamus in mice. J. of Reproduction, 140, 1-10.
- M.A. Kirby, M. M. Groves, and S. M. Yellon (2009). Retrograde tracing of spinal cord connections tothe cervix with pregnancy in mice. J. of Reproduction, 139:1-10,2009.
- Boyd J.W., T.J. Lechuga, C.A. Ebner, M.A. Kirby, Yellon S.M. (2009). Cervix remodeling and parturition in the rat: lack of a role for hypogastric innervation. J. of Reproduction 137: 739-748.
- Yellon S.M., Bur ns A.E., J.L. See, T.J. Lechuga, M.A. Kirby (2009). Progesterone Withdrawal Promotes Remodeling Processes in the Nonpregnant Mouse Cervix. Biol. Reprod. 81: 1-6.
- Kirby L.S., M.A. Kirby, J.W. Warren, L.T. Tran, S.M. Yellon (2005). Increased innervation and ripening of the prepartum murine cervix. J. Soc. Gynecol Invest. 12:578-85.
- S.M. Yellon, A.M. Mackler, M.A. Kirby (2003). The role of leukocyte traffic and activation in parturition. J. Soc. Gynecol. Invest. 10: 323-338 (invited review).
- S.M. Yellon, A.M. Mackler, M.A. Kirby (2003). Contribution of leukocyte trafficking and activation in the pregnant uterus and cervix at term to an immune hypothesis for parturition. J. Society for Gyne. Invest. 10:323-338.
- M.A. Kirby (2003) The Brain Atlas. J. of Neurosurgery.
- M.A. Kirby (2003). Probabilistic Models of the Brain. J. of Neurosurgery.
- M.A. Kirby (2002) Cerefy Brain Atlas. J. of Neurosurgery, 1481-1482.
- M.A. Kirby, D.H. Rapaport (2001). Human Neuroanatomy. J. of Neurosurgery, 95:912-913.
- Allan, G., Liu, J-W, Kirby, M.A., M. DeLeon (2001). Induction and axonal localization of E-FABP in retinal ganglion cells is associated with axon regeneration. J. Neuroscience Research, 66:396-405.
- Christensen, D.W., Kisling, R., Thompson, J., and M.A. Kirby (2001). Deferoxamine Toxicity in Hepatoma and Primary Rat Brain Cultures. Human and Experimental Toxicology, 20:1-12.
- Erkman, L., P.A. Yates, T. McLaughlin, R.J. McEvilly, T. Whisenhunt, S.M. O’Connell, A.I. Krones, M.A. Kirby, D.H. Rapaport, J.R. Bermingham, D.D.M. O’Leary, & M.G. Rosenfield (2000). Cell autonomous regulation of axon pathfinding in the vertebrate visual system by a Brn-3.2 dependent transcriptional program. Neuron, 28:779-792.
- Reder, C.S., M. Moyers, and M.A. Kirby (2000). Physiological Alteration of CNS cells following Proton Irradiation, Intern. J. of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, 46:1247-1257.
- M.F. Moyers, R.A. Galindo, L.T. Yonemoto, L. Loredo, E.J. Friedrichsen, M.A. Kirby, J.D. Slater, and J.M. Slater (1999). Treatment of macular degeneration with proton beams. Medical Physics, 26:777-782.