BHI Plenary Seminar: Dr. Timothy A. Ryan on Metabolic Vulnerabilities and Opportunities in Brain Function
The Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) is delighted to welcome Dr. Timothy A. Ryan, as the distinguished plenary speaker for its seminar series. Dr. Ryan is Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Janelia Scholar, and Tri-Institutional Professor at Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This event will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University. Dr. Ryan’s presentation promises to ignite innovative discussions at the intersection of synaptic biology, biophysics, and neuronal metabolism – critical areas for advancing our understanding of brain function and disorders such as neurodegeneration and epilepsy. Learn more
Dr. Timothy A. Ryan
Dr. Ryan’s trajectory in neuroscience exemplifies a seamless integration of physics rigor and biological inquiry. He earned a B.Sc. in Physics from McGill University in 1981, followed by an M.Sc. in Physics from the same institution in 1983, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University in 1989. His postdoctoral training included stints in Applied & Engineering Physics at Cornell (1989-1990) and Molecular & Cellular Physiology at Stanford University Medical School (1990-1997). Launching his independent career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medical College in 1997, Dr. Ryan advanced rapidly: Associate Professor (2001-2005), Tenured Associate Professor (2003-2005), Tenured Professor (2005-present), and Professor of Biochemistry in Anesthesiology (2012-present). He has held adjunct and tri-institutional roles at Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering since 1997 and 2005, respectively. At HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus, he served as a Senior Fellow (2017-2020) and is now a Scholar (2020-present). In these roles, he leads interdisciplinary efforts to quantify synapse function, bridging molecular mechanisms with empirical data to elucidate neuronal energy dynamics.
Beyond research, Dr. Ryan has contributed significantly to education and scientific leadership. His distinguished honors underscore his profound influence: election to the National Academy of Sciences (2024) and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2024); the NINDS Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award (2016); the Siegel Family Award for Outstanding Medical Research (2015); McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Awards (2000 and 2010); the Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award (2001); and the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1999). A sought-after orator, Dr. Ryan has delivered keynote and plenary addresses across the globe—from the John Lewis Memorial Lecture (2003) and the Edward Kravitz Endowed Lecture at the Marine Biological Laboratories (2024) to international conferences like the Cell Biology of the Neuron Gordon Research Conference (2026) and the International Society for Neurochemistry Satellite Meeting (2019)—illuminating topics in synaptic vesicle recycling, calcium dynamics, neurotransmitter release, and metabolic control in neurons. His laboratory pioneers quantitative optical tools and biophysical approaches to dissect the molecular basis of synaptic transmission, integrating live imaging, pharmacology, and genetics to reveal how synapses manage energy demands. These models, tested across mammalian paradigms, yield actionable insights for conditions spanning Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and other neurodegenerative disorders, establishing quantitative synaptic biology as a vital link between basic science and therapeutic innovation. Dr. Ryan has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature, Neuron, Cell, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Abstract of the Talk: “Metabolic Vulnerabilities and Opportunities in Brain Function”
Our brains are metabolically vulnerable, as even brief interruptions in proper fueling lead to rapid degradation in cognitive performance. My lab identified presynaptic function as one of the likely loci of this vulnerability and has leveraged the sensitivity of synaptic vesicle recycling to metabolic compromise to dissect the molecular underpinnings of how local ATP production is balanced during electrical activity in axons. Our work has helped identify critical control points that in turn appear central to neurodegenerative diseases and offer new therapeutic approaches to neurodegeneration.
Dr. Pingyue Pan
Dr. Pingyue Pan, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, brings a deeply personal touch to hosting this seminar. As a former postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Ryan’s lab, she reflects on how his mentorship profoundly shaped her scientific journey. Under his guidance, she absorbed a creative, rigorous, and quantitative approach to tackling complex biological questions—an influence that continues to define her own research today. Grateful for those formative years, Dr. Pan sees Dr. Ryan’s current focus on brain energy metabolism and the diverse “energy currencies” utilized by synapses as a fresh and distinctive lens that complements ongoing work at Rutgers. Looking ahead to the event, Dr. Pan envisions it as an inspiring opportunity: for trainees to engage directly with Dr. Ryan’s brilliant intellect and absorb his unique style of problem-solving, and for faculty to spark conversations that could lead to exciting new collaborations.
Dr. Ryan adds “As a scientist there are two major highlights to the job: the first is the process of discovering things you don’t understand and then unlocking a piece of the puzzle. The second is sharing your ideas and discussing them with colleagues. I am delighted to get a chance to do the latter with the scientific community at Rutgers.
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