Dr Brent Ryan

Following his undergraduate and doctoral training at the University of Exeter, Dr. Brent Ryan joined the University of Oxford in 2010 as a member of the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre. His lab’s work focuses on understanding the molecular pathways that make certain neurons vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease, using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models.

The Ryan Laboratory uses high-throughput biology and advanced proteomics to investigate how mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction contribute to neurodegeneration. A core part of the lab’s mission is to design and develop innovative assays that measure key aspects of neuronal health, organelle function, and cellular stress. These tools enable the team to study how both genetic risk factors and environmental stressors shape disease processes in human neurons.

The lab has established powerful high-throughput and high-content phenotypic screening platforms that combine CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and diverse compound libraries with mature patient-derived iPSC neurons, primary rodent neurons, and engineered cell lines. By integrating automated imaging, functional measurements, and large-scale data analysis, the Ryan Lab identifies molecular pathways that drive neurodegeneration and reveals new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Working closely with academic and industry partners, the laboratory aims to translate fundamental discoveries into strategies that support the development of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders.