Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Iowa

Ph.D.
State University of New York College at Buffalo, Physiology & Biophysics

BS
State University of New York College at Cortland, Biological Sciences

Research Interests:

Chronic inflammation and immune system dysfunction play important roles in the development of hypertension, cardiovascular, and renal disease.  The Ryan laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanistic links driving these relationships   To accomplish this goal,  we focus specifically on the autoimmune disorder systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  Patients with autoimmune disorders including SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma are at significantly elevated risk for the development of hypertension and the associated cardiovascular and renal consequences.  In addition, evidence suggests that some patients with primary hypertension have circulating autoantibodies similar to those found in patients with autoimmune diseases.  Currently funded work in the laboratory is focused on understanding the interaction between autoantibodies with renal and vascular tissue, and how that interaction promotes the development of hypertension.