Pioneering Delivery Strategies for Blinding Diseases Therapy and Inspiring Women in Science
Beacon Stories
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated globally to recognize the critical role women play in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To honor this vital day, the Foundation is thrilled to spotlight Dr. Renee Ryals, PhD, a remarkable scientist at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University.
Born and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, Dr. Ryals was inspired to pursue a career in ophthalmology at the age of 12 after watching a cataract lens placement video shown by a family member who is an ophthalmologist. This early fascination set her on a path that has now spanned 14 years in the field.
As a graduate student, Dr. Ryals worked in the lab of Dr. Bill Hauswirth at the University of Florida, where she witnessed the creation of the adeno-associated virus RPE65 therapy, which later became LUXTURNA®.
Dr. Renee Ryals looking into a microscope in her research lab.
“When I was in his lab, I got to see us make this virus [used to deliver the gene]," recalls Dr. Ryals. "I was also in the operating room when they dosed a patient and then took [a sample of] that virus back to the lab and injected it in mice to make sure it was working. So I really got to see a bench-to-bedside production of a clinical product, and that hooked me at that point in terms of wanting to generate a clinical product for retinal diseases.”
Dr. Ryals' journey has been marked by her determination to be independent and career-driven. Despite the historically male-dominated nature of the field, she has always felt like a leader in science and has been surrounded by supportive women during her education and postdoctoral work. Now, she is committed to helping other women in science continue on their career paths and demonstrating that success is possible.
In her current work, Dr. Ryals is developing lipid nanoparticles to facilitate gene editing therapeutics for inherited retinal diseases. Traditionally, viruses are used to deliver DNA to retinal cells, but Dr. Ryals is pioneering the use of non-viral, lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to the retina. For this PRPH2-associated retinal degeneration research, Dr. Ryals has been awarded a Foundation-funded Brint Family Translational Research Award.
“We’re working to develop these non-viral carriers to be very specific for the photoreceptors or the retinal pigment epithelium,” says Dr. Ryals. “Since these patients have a genetic mutation causing their vision loss, we’re developing gene editing technology that can go in and correct that mutation. We’re pushing the field forward, trying to do things that no one else can.”
At the OHSU Casey Eye Institute, patients can provide a blood sample, which Dr. Ryals and her team use to grow human stem cells. This is the first milestone in their clinical pipeline. The second milestone involves optimizing the lipid nanoparticle carriers for gene editing machinery to target specific cells. Once both milestones are achieved, the team tests the technology in non-human primates or large animal models to ensure safety and efficacy before moving to clinical trials.
Reflecting on her career, Dr. Ryals says, “I’ve seen the field go from no FDA-approved therapies to one approved and many more clinical trials trying to get out the next FDA-approved therapy, so it’s been amazing to be a part of this whole journey.”
She finds motivation not only in the potential to help patients but also in the collaborative spirit of her team. “My team is constantly emailing me or asking me questions on how to further their research so we’re collectively working together for more progress and high impact.”
The Foundation Fighting Blindness has also played a crucial role in Dr. Ryals' work by connecting her with a PRPH2 support group and providing opportunities to present her research at events and conferences.
“It means a lot to me to be a part of this group,” says Dr. Ryals. “It inspires me, and I just hope that I’m giving them hope, knowing that we are working on these different platforms and products that might make it to the clinic one day.”
Dr. Renee Ryals and her research team at Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute.
Dr. Ryals also serves on the scientific advisory board at the Foundation Fighting Blindness, helping to choose which grants will be funded and curating the Foundation’s annual Retinal Therapeutics Innovation Summit. She is a role model for other women in the field, demonstrating that success in science requires patience, grit, and perseverance.
Looking to the future, Dr. Ryals defines success as getting her own product from bench to bedside and collaborating with other groups to move their products into the clinic.
“No matter if it's my product or someone else's product, I'm still on that translational scientist trajectory moving products from bench to bedside,” says Dr. Ryals. “It’s all about working together as a collective field.”
Dr. Ryals is continually impressed by her patients' knowledge and engagement with the research. “They know what’s going on in the research, and they know what is in development, so they outsmart me much of the time,” she says. “Connecting with the patients that I'm working for is crucial for the research that's being done.”
On this special day, we celebrate Dr. Renee Ryals and her incredible contributions to the field of blinding disease research. Her dedication, innovation, and leadership are paving the way for future generations of women in science.
