Katie R. Ryan

Assistant Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

faculty

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine

10 h-index 27 pubs 368 cited

Research Areas

Links

ORCID Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

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OverviewAI-generated summary

Katie R. Ryan's research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer, particularly in relation to specific oncoproteins and their potential as therapeutic targets. Her work has investigated the role of the Rearranged during Transfection (RET) oncogene in lung cancer, exploring small-molecule inhibitors and their clinical development. Ryan has also studied pyrazoloadenine derivatives as inhibitors of RET and TRKA, and examined novel inhibitors of the RET lung cancer oncoprotein discovered through fragment optimization. Her recent work includes investigating Rnd3 as a regulator of breast cancer invasion and metastatic potential, and exploring its role in lung cancer cell invasion and migration. Ryan collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Noemi Garcia Garcia and Brendan Frett, with whom she has co-authored multiple publications. Her scholarship metrics include an h-index of 10, 27 total publications, and 368 total citations.

Metrics

h-index: 10
Publications: 27
Citations: 368

Selected Publications

Abstract 2645: Rnd3 depletion in lung cancer cell lines decreases cell invasion and migration in a ROCK1 independent manner (2025) DOI
Abstract 2649: Defining how Rnd3, a novel regulator of breast cancer invasion, affects the metastatic potential of triple-negative breast cancer (2025) DOI
Long-read sequencing for brain tumors (2024) DOI
Discovery of 9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole derivatives as dual RET/TRKA inhibitors (2024) DOI
Targeting Rearranged during Transfection in Cancer: A Perspective on Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Their Clinical Development (2021) DOI
Pyrazoloadenine Inhibitors of the RET Lung Cancer Oncoprotein Discovered by a Fragment Optimization Approach (2021) DOI

Research Interests

Rho family GTPases act as ‘molecular switches’ and are master regulators of many aspects of cellular behavior including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, gene expression, cell cycle, cell migration, and apoptosis. Many cellular processes regulated by Rho GTPases, are commonly dysregulated in cancer. Our laboratory focuses on the identification of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in Rho GTPase signaling. Rho family GTPases act as ‘molecular switches’ and are master regulators of many aspects of cellular behavior including regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, gene expression, cell cycle, cell migration, and apoptosis. Many cellular processes regulated by Rho GTPases, are commonly dysregulated in cancer. My work focuses on the role of Rho GTPases in cell migration and invasion in several in vitro cancer models including lung, breast, and skin cancer. We utilize molecular and cellular biology techniques as well as proteomic approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets of metastasis.

Grants & Funding

Determining How Driver Mutations Affect the Metastatic Potential of Lung Cancer Using Cell-based Assays and a Proteomic Approach Barton Award Spring FY22 Ryan Principal Investigator
Center for Studies of Host Response to Cancer Therapy NIH Co-Investigator
Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer (CMIC) NIH Co-Investigator
A proteomics approach to determining how driver mutations effect the metastatic potential of lung cancer Seeds of Science Pilot Award UAMS Cancer Institute Principal Investigator
Defining how Rnd3, a novel regulator of breast cancer invasion, affects the metastatic potential of breast cancer Arkansas Breast Cancer Research Program Principal Investigator