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/ Scientists Ryan Watts - Associate Director, Senior Scientist, Neuroscience

Ryan Watts

Associate Director, Senior Scientist, Neuroscience

Postdoc mentor icon POSTDOC MENTOR
"I find profound satisfaction in analyzing data generated to address the basic questions of biology. And doing this in an environment with respected colleagues and friends makes the process even more rewarding."
  • 9
    years at Genentech
  • 13
    publications (2010-12)

I joined Genentech in March 2004 and began working with other scientists on molecules that coordinate the development of both the vascular and nervous systems, with a hope to find approaches for the treatment of human disease, particularly cancer.

I was instantly impressed by the quality, pace, and collaborative nature of research at Genentech. In the midst of this stimulating environment we have also built a group focused on developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.

POSTDOCTORAL MENTOR Connecting the vascular and nervous systems: angiogenesis and the blood-brain barrier (BBB): There are remarkable similarities at both the cellular and molecular levels between the vascular and nervous systems. In particular, the 'axon guidance' molecules have recently been shown to be key angiogenic regulators. Our group is focused on understanding the basic biology of axon guidance molecules in angiogenesis and developing therapies targeting these molecules in both angiogenesis and axon regeneration. We have recently expanded this focus to the interface of the vascular and nervous systems, the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have initiated efforts to better understand how the BBB develops, matures and is maintained, with a particular focus on understanding how, and to what extent large molecules transverse this physiological barrier. Neurodegeneration: We are focused on Alzheimer's Disease and are actively working on developing therapeutics for this devastating disease. From a basic biology perspective, we are exploring the molecular mechanisms of axon degeneration and synapse elimination to better understand these active processes, which have particular relevance to Alzheimer's Disease and many other neurodegenerative diseases.

Featured Publication

A mutation in APP protects against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.
Nature. 2012 Jul 11. doi: 10.1038/nature11283.
Jonsson T, Atwal JK, Steinberg S, Snaedal J, Jonsson PV, Bjornsson S, Stefansson H, Sulem P, Gudbjartsson D, Maloney J, Hoyte K, Gustafson A, Liu Y, Lu Y, Bhangale T, Graham RR, Huttenlocher J, Bjornsdottir G, Andreassen OA, Jönsson EG, Palotie A, Behrens TW, Magnusson OT, Kong A, Thorsteinsdottir U, Watts RJ, Stefansson K.
View Abstract on PubMed

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