Katie R. Ryan

Katie R. Ryan is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), affiliated with the College of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Rho GTPases in cancer progression, particularly their roles in cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

• Ph.D., University of Birmingham, UK
• B.Sc., University of Birmingham, UK

Her work examines how Rho GTPases regulate cellular behavior—including actin cytoskeleton dynamics, gene expression, and apoptosis—and how their dysregulation contributes to cancer. Using in vitro models of lung, breast, and skin cancer, her lab employs molecular and cellular biology techniques alongside proteomics to identify therapeutic targets for metastasis.

The 2018–2015 publications highlight her contributions to understanding Rho GTPase interactions in dopamine signaling, glioblastoma, keratinocyte apoptosis, and adhesion complex regulation. These studies span disciplines such as Neuroscience, Oncology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics, revealing insights into cancer biology and neurodevelopmental mechanisms.

Contact: KRRyan@uams.edu. Office: 501-526-6000 ext. 24925 (Cancer Institute 9.125). Lab: 501-686-5954 (Cancer Institute 9.154).