Dr. Scott Ryan (he/him) - Principal Investigator
Dr. Ryan began his training in neuroscience at the University of Ottawa, where he studied under the supervision of Dr. Steffany Bennett. During his graduate studies, Dr. Ryan helped develop a systems-based method for the study of lipid second messengers in neurodegenerative disease. Following his Ph.D., Dr Ryan continued his training in neurobiology and in 2009 began a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Rashmi Kothary at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
Funded by a CIHR postdoctoral fellowship, here Dr. Ryan’s research focused not only on neurodegenerative disease but also on how modulation of the cytoskeleton impacts organelle function and axonal transport. The combined results of this work offered an improved understanding of the bridge connecting newly formed transport vesicles in neurons with the cytoskeletal elements necessary for neurotransmitter secretion.
Upon the conclusion of this appointment, in the summer of 2011, Dr. Ryan moved to La Jolla, California, where he held a position as a postdoctoral fellow at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Stuart Lipton. Here, as a fellow of the Parkinson’s Society of Canada, Dr. Ryan further explored his interest in organelle function in the context of neurodegeneration by studying the influence of mitochondrial dynamics on Parkinson’s etiology. While again focusing on modulation of second messengers, he assessed how mitochondrial respiration and redox signaling are impaired in human dopaminergic neurons. This was achieved using a robust, patient-derived, stem cell model of Parkinson’s Disease. Now as a member of Molecular and Cellular Biology Dr. Ryan is building on these experiences to investigate how reactive oxygen and nitrogen species impair organelle function in human stem cell and animal based models of neurodegenerative disease and developing techniques to re-populate lost tissue in the diseased brain.
Dr. Ryan joined the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the University of Guelph in January 2014, bringing with him expertise in neurobiology and stem cell-based disease modeling. Dr. Ryan’s research focus on cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease and regenerative therapy has developed over the course of his training both in Canada and the United States. His innovative approach uses high resolution imaging techniques coupled with biochemical analysis to model, understand and treat neurodegenerative diseases using stem cell technology.
Now, at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, he focuses on how structural changes to the protein alpha-synuclein might inform on the diagnosis and prognostication of people with Parkinson’s Disease.
CURRENT MEMBERS
Dr. Ping Lu (HE/HIM)
Research Manager
ping.lu1@ucalgary.ca
Ping completed his PhD in Pharmacology at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University under the supervision of Dr. Takashi Ikejima. He then went on to complete a fellowship at the University of Manitoba in Dr. Chris Anderson’s lab specializing in the cell biology of neurodegeneration and blood-brain circulatory systems. After which he remained in the Anderson lab as their lab manager. In October 2023, Ping joined the Ryan lab as a Research Manager and brings his skills and molecular biology knowledge to help mentor students and lab staff in their projects. In his free time, Ping enjoys camping with his wife and two kids!
CHERYL Breiteneder
LAB MANAGER
cherylbreit64@gmail.com
Cheryl is an Animal Health Technologist and started at the University of Calgary in 1990. She joined the Ryan lab as the lab manager in June 2023 and has the responsibility of managing the finances, laboratory compliance, supplies and every day running of the lab. Cheryl also likes to explore small town Alberta and hang out with friends. If there is an opportunity to travel, she is up for the adventure!
Suelen Camargo, MSc (SHE/HER)
RESEARCH ASSISTANT (PROTEIN BIOCHEM.)
suelen.camargo@ucalgary.ca
Suelen completed her MSc in Biophysics specializing in protein expression and purification, at the University of Guelph. She worked in projects related to protein structural and functional characterization and membrane protein purification and reconstitution in different lipid systems. Her contribution to the Ryan lab started in November 2023 and involves alpha synuclein protein expression and purification, also extending to binding and biophysical assays of alpha-syn and lipid vesicles with other proteins. During her spare time, she enjoys learning french in order to gain permanent residency :D
Shehani Siripala, BSc (SHE/HER)
RESEARCH ASSISTANT (STEM CELL BIO.)
shehani.siripala1@ucalgary.ca
Shehani completed her Honours, BSc in Neuroscience at the University of Guelph. She joined the Ryan Lab in May 2021 for her undergraduate research project, then stayed on as a Research Assistant after graduating. She primarily works with patient-derived stem cells, differentiating them into 2D dopaminergic neurons or cardiomyocytes, and 3D midbrain or cardiac organoids. Her expertise ranges from cell culture to animal dissections, molecular biology techniques, microscopy studies, and providing technical help to students when needed. Shehani likes to spend any free time she has in the mountains, hiking and skiing, or binge watching tv shows with Sharanya :)
Sharanya Thevasenan, BSc (SHE/HER)
MSc Candidate - neuroscience
sharanya.thevasenan@ucalgary.ca
Sharanya completed her Honours, BSc in Biomedical Sciences, specializing in microbiology and immunology, at the University of Waterloo. In collaboration with Dr. Tilo Kunath (University of Edinburgh), her Masters project focuses on using 2D and 3D (organoid) stem cell culture models to isolate both intra- and extracellular vesicles and investigate the trafficking of pathological alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease. She joined the Ryan Lab in September 2023 as an MSc student. In her free time, Sharanya enjoys swimming, reading and binge watching shows with Shehani!
Gerardo Balderas, MSc (HE/THEY)
PhD Student - biochemistry
gerardo.balderas@ucalgary.ca
Gerardo completed his MSc in Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. There he was introduced to protein biochemistry and biophysics where his work focused on protein interaction studies, structural studies, and SAXS modelling. He joined the Ryan lab in May 2024 as a PhD student. His work will focus on the characterization of TTR fibril formation in ATTR-CM disease using biophysics and cell biology approaches. During his spare time he likes to indulge in the arts, fitness, oenology and take long romantic walks in the lab!
mahdi lavasani (he/him)
phd candidate - biophysics
m.lavasani@uoguelph.ca
After completing his undergraduate in Organic Chemistry, Mahdi pursued a master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Milan (Italy). During his master's, he focused on studying ligand-protein (TCL1) interactions using NMR spectroscopy. After graduating from UNIMI in 2021, he began his PhD studies at the University of Guelph under the co-supervision of Dr. Scott Ryan and Dr. Vladimir Ladizhansky. Mahdi’s research utilizes Solid State NMR to explore how intermolecular interactions of alpha-synuclein regulates and contribute to abnormal aggregation and accumulation in nervous system cells, linked to Parkinson’s Disease pathology. In his spare time, Mahdi enjoys swimming and spending time with friends!
DR. TAMMY RYAN, MD/PHD (SHE/HER)
VISITING SCIENTIST
tammy.ryan@medportal.ca
After completing a Bachelor of Medical Sciences at the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Ryan moved on to graduate training in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Under the supervision of Dr. Ilona Skerjanc, Dr. Ryan studied the mechanisms governing the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into skeletal and cardiac muscle. Upon completion of her PhD in 2011, Dr. Ryan moved on to continue her work in the field of myogenesis as a postdoctoral fellow at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, California. As a fellow of the American Heart Association, she studied the role of chromatin remodeling complexes in muscle differentiation, using transgenic mouse models and embryonic stem cells. Dr. Ryan went on to complete her MD and residency at McMaster Univeristy specializing in adult cardiology. Currently, she oversees the directed differentiation of cardiomyocytes and co-directs TTR toxicity studies as well as provides insight into the clinical impact of ATTR-CM through her connecion with amyloidosis clinics in Canada.
LAB ALUMNI
STAFF/TECHNICIANS:
Carla Coakley - Lab Manager (2015-2023)
Current Position: Lab Manager Mark Loeb Lab McMaster
Evelyn Kamski-Hennekam - Undergraduate Project Student (2018) and Research Technician I (2019-2020)
Keith Sherriff - Lab Technician (2016-2017)
Current Position: Research Technician, Nubiyota Inc.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:
Emma Green - Undergraduate Project Student (2022-2023)
Ramya Lakshminarasimhan (2022) - MITACs Resesrch Internship
Stephanie Ouzikov - Undergraduate Project Student (2020-2021)
Corné Van Roessel (2019) - International Undergrad Project Student
Bradley Zilke (2018-2019) - Undergrad Project Student
Dana Summer (2018) - USRA Summer Student
Tinya Wang (2017-2018) - Undergrad Project Student
Phineas Samuel (2017-2018) - Undergrad Project Student
Mathew Kirby (2017) - Undergrad Project Student
Sarah Gordon (2017) - USRA summer student
Kristin Davis (2016) - Co-op Student
Arianne Cohen (2015-2016 )- Undergrad Project Student
Mitchele Demelo (2014-2015) - Undergrad Project Student
Rhiannon Jamieson-Williams (2014-2015) - Undergrad Project Student
Janean Anggala (2014) - Undergrad Research Student
post-doctoral fellows:
Dr. Juliane Heide - Post-Doctoral Fellow (2015-2016)
Current Position: Life Science Manager, Vibalogics, Germany
Dr. Irina Ayres - Post-Doctoral Fellow (2014)
Current Position: Research Scientist, Therapure Biopharma
PHD CANDIDATES:
Dr. Brodie Buchner-Duby - PhD Candidate (2019-2024)
Dr. Morgan G. Stykel - PhD Candidate (2016-2021) and Post-doc Fellow (2021-2022)
Current Position: Senior Scientist - Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals, MA, USA.
MASTER’S CANDIDATES:
Kedar Bhosale - Mitacs Research Internship (2022) and MSc Candidate (2022-2023)
Current Position: Marie Curie Doctoral Researcher, Siddarth Banka Lab UManchester, UK
Natalie Porte-Trachsel - Undergraduate Project Student (2019-2020) and MSc Candidate (2020-2022)
Current Position: GMP Manufacturing BlueRock Therapeutics
Justin Medeiros - MSc Candidate (2018-2021) and Research Technician III (2021-2023)
Current Position: Full Stack Developer at RBC Toronto
Ryan Hallam - MSc Candidate (2018-2020)
Current Position: PhD Candiate at Aleksandar Necakov Lab BrockU
Shalandra Wood - MSc Student (2017-2018)
Current Position: Account Manager Dynacare
Jennifer Drolet - MSc Candidate (2016-2018)
Current Position: Lead Pharmaceutical Consultant Q&C Services
Kayla Humphries - MSc Candidate (2015-2017)
Current Position: Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Bio Agri Mix
Chris Czaniecki - MSc Candidate (2014-2016)
Current Position: Medical Lead, Takeda Canada