معرفی
Professor Renae Ryan is a renowned academic at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the School of Biomedical Engineering and School of Medical Sciences. She holds an ARC Future Fellowship and leads research on membrane transport proteins, particularly glutamate transporters, linking their dysfunction to neurological diseases like episodic ataxia and cancer. Ryan earned her PhD from the University of Sydney in 2004, followed by postdoctoral work at Columbia University and NIH before returning to Sydney in 2007. She became a Professor in 2010.
- Education: PhD in Pharmacology (University of Sydney, 2004), postdoctoral research at Columbia University and NIH.
- Roles: Chair of SAGE Advisory Council, Academic Director of Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Program (2017–2022).
Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of transport proteins, including their dual roles as transporters and chloride channels. Key areas include:
- Structural biology of glutamate transporters (e.g., 'twisting elevator' mechanism).
- Linking transporter mutations to diseases like episodic ataxia type 6.
- Developing therapeutics targeting amino acid transport in cancer.
Recent articles highlight her work on glutamate transporter structure, chloride channel dysfunction in ataxia, and cancer cell nutrient uptake. Over 20 awards recognize her scientific contributions and leadership in gender equity.
- Grants: ARC Future Fellowship (2022), NHMRC Project Grants (e.g., targeting glutamate transport mechanisms).
- Advising: Supervised 11 PhD/MSc students, including Chelsea Briot and Natasha Freidman.
International collaborations include work with McGill University (Don van Meyel), Weill Cornell (Olga Boudker), and NYU (Nicolas Abreu). Current projects explore cancer cell nutrient transport and therapeutic inhibitors for neurological disorders.
