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

Off-Campus Housing Week: Wellness Wednesday promotional image

Off-Campus Housing Week: Wellness Wednesday

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
Off-campus housing week: Wellness Wednesday
John Warner – Only Humans Write: Why You Shouldn’t Outsource Your Humanity to ChatGPT promotional image

John Warner – Only Humans Write: Why You Shouldn’t Outsource Your Humanity to ChatGPT

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 7:00pm
Iowa City Public Library
Writer John Warner discusses writing in the age of AI.
Off-Campus Housing Fair promotional image

Off-Campus Housing Fair

Thursday, October 9, 2025 11:00am to 2:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
Meet with properties and off-campus support resources at the Off-Campus Housing

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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