معرفی
Ryan MacDonald is an Associate Professor at University College London's Institute of Ophthalmology, where he leads a research group focused on understanding eye development and maintenance throughout life. His laboratory investigates how glial cells pattern and shape during development to support neurons, and what happens when the glia-neuronal relationship breaks down due to aging or disease.
- Current position: Associate Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (Sep 2023 - present)
- Previous appointments: Senior Research Fellow at UCL, Postdoctoral Fellow at Linkoping University, Research Associate at University of Cambridge
- Education: PhD in Neurobiology from University of Ottawa, BSc Hons from University of New Brunswick
Dr. MacDonald's research primarily centers on glial biology within the retina using zebrafish as a model system. His lab leverages the transparency of zebrafish embryos to label specific cells with fluorescent markers and use time-lapse confocal microscopy to observe eye development in real time. The group employs CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, RNA-sequencing, and molecular biology techniques to uncover fundamental mechanisms of glial biology, with particular interest in cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating glial morphogenesis and the consequences of disrupted glial contacts on neuronal function.
Analysis of Dr. MacDonald's recent publications reveals a strong focus on retinal development, aging mechanisms, and neurodegenerative processes. His work spans multiple model systems including zebrafish and African turquoise killifish, with significant contributions to imaging technology through the IBEX Knowledge-Base project. His research bridges basic developmental biology with translational applications for understanding age-related eye diseases.
- Associate Fellow Higher Education Academy
- BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship (2019-2024)
Dr. MacDonald actively supervises multiple PhD students including Ola Krzywańska (Moorfields Eye Charity PhD Student), Gina Gilpin (BBSRC LIDo Programme PhD Student), and Roxana Lungu (Moorfields Eye Charity PhD Student). His lab is supported by various funding sources including Moorfields Eye Charity and the BBSRC. The MacDonald Lab is part of several graduate programs at UCL including the UCL-Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training Programme and the London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme.
The MacDonald Lab maintains active collaborations and has developed important resources including the GliaMorph toolkit for quantifying Müller glial cell morphology and contributing to the IBEX Knowledge-Base for multiplexed imaging techniques. Their research has significant implications for understanding age-related macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease mechanisms, and retinal neurodegeneration.
