Ryang Hwa Lee

Ryang Hwa Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at the Texas A&M School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Stem Cell Biology from Pusan National University (2003) and completed postdoctoral training under Dr. Prockop at Tulane University, focusing on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research. Her work emphasizes MSC-based therapies for autoimmune diseases and tissue injuries, leveraging extracellular vesicles (EVs) and biomarker development. Key projects include preclinical studies on type 1 diabetes, autoimmune uveitis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and corneal injuries, supported by grants from NIH, JDRF, and CPRIT.

Education:

• Bachelor's in [unspecified], Pusan National University, 1997
• Master's in [unspecified], Pusan National University Medical School, 1999
• PhD in Stem Cell Biology, Pusan National University Medical School, 2003

Research Interests:

• Mechanisms of MSC immunomodulation and therapeutic efficacy
• Biomarker development for MSC/EV potency
• Preclinical evaluation of MSC-derived EVs in autoimmune diseases
• Standardization of MSC biopotency assays

Grant Support:

• NIH/NIDDK R01 (2024–2029): Engineered MSC-derived EVs for type 1 diabetes
• NIH/NIDCR R01 (2025–2030): Sjögren’s syndrome EV therapy
• NIH/NHLBI R01 (2025–2030): CLIP Scale for MSC clinical indications