Meet the Research Team

Research Areas

Ryan Lab News Feed

Ryan Lab Introduction

One of the major limitations to studying human lung disease is limited access to primary airway epithelial cells and poor recapitulation of human disease in rodent models, leading to fewer therapies making it to the clinic. To progress toward new therapeutics and eventually cures, it is imperative to study the human lung, including cells from the proximal conducting and distal gas exchange regions across a diverse spectrum of lung disease patients. My research program is focused on the development and utilization of iPSC models of human lung disease to overcome this critical lack of model systems that closely reflect disease pathogenesis as it occurs in humans. The Ryan laboratory focuses on applying in vitro, in vivo, iPSC and 3-D spheroid models including primary lung epithelial cells and state-of-the-art gene editing technologies to a) model and study mechanisms of lung development and disease, and b) investigate approaches for tissue regeneration and stem cell-mediated repair of the airway epithelium. To support this highly innovative program, we have established critical collaborations with clinicians, engineers, large animal research groups and bioinformaticians both within USC and around the world. Our long-term goal is to fully understand specification of specialized airway epithelial cell types from stem and progenitor cells in the human lung in the context of injury, regeneration and disease pathogenesis. Our primary research focus is on rare lung diseases where human samples are particularly difficult to obtain or from end stage disease, namely cystic fibrosis (CF) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

 

 

 

Looking for opportunities?

We are always looking for energetic, motivated, creative individuals who have a strong curiosity and desire to learn.  Please look through our research areas or contact us to to see if we have anything that could be a fit for you.

About the University of Iowa

Welcome to the University of Iowa

Upcoming Area Events

Football Hawkeye Huddle: UCLA

Friday, November 8, 2024 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Ixtapa Cantina/Hawg Heaven BBQ
Iowa football season is almost here! In addition to our seven home games, we hope you can join us at one of our Hawkeye Huddles this season when the Iowa football team is on the road. Hawkeye Huddles are free, pregame pep rallies that feature cash refreshments and snacks, door prizes, a Hawkeye DJ, Herky the Hawk, and the Iowa Spirit Squads.  Register today: https://foriowa.info/UCLA24 Pre-registration is optional. For Hawkeye Huddles that do not have game times set, these events will begin...

Articles

Recent Lab Publications

Friday, April 28, 2023

Erik Quiroz selected for a talk.

Friday, April 28, 2023

New Publications: Pre-print article on airway neutrophilia in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Our recent pre-print article using an in vitro model of neutrophil-epithelial interactions to determine changes in inflammation, infectivity and epithelial response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Stats and rankings

# 34

Best public university in the country (U.S. News & World Report)

Top 3 %

of universities worldwide (U.S. News & World Report)

95 %

job/graduate school placement rate