Ryan Flynn

Ryan Flynn, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He serves as a Principal Investigator at the Stem Cell Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, and as a Principal Faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Flynn joined these institutions in 2021 to establish his independent research program.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Mentor: Phil Sharp)
• M.D. and Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Stanford University Medical Scientist Training Program (Mentors: Howard Chang and Carolyn Bertozzi)

Research Focus:
Dr. Flynn's laboratory explores how biopolymers like RNA and glycans cooperate to regulate cellular processes in human disease contexts. His work bridges RNA biology and glycobiology, with emphasis on:

• Post-transcriptional RNA modifications including glycoRNAs
• RNA-binding protein networks and cellular regulation
• Interactions between RNA biology and secretory pathways
• Development of molecular tools to study RNA-glycan interfaces

Lab Operations: The Flynn Lab actively recruits postdoctoral fellows and students to investigate glycoRNA mechanisms, cell surface biology, and disease applications. Research employs interdisciplinary approaches spanning chemical biology, genomics, and cell imaging.