Ryan Wisniewski comes to the St. Jude Graduate School by way of Sherman Oaks, Calif. Wisniewski earned a pair of degrees from the University of Southern California, with a master’s in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine and a bachelor’s in neuroscience.
Wisniewski’s research aims to understand fundamental mechanisms of brain development and to apply genetic and stem cell technologies to model and treat neurological disorders. Using gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9) and inducible systems, he grows stem-cell-derived 3D organoids that recapitulate specific regions of the human brain. These models provide a platform to investigate how specific genes influence development during critical temporal windows. His long‑term goal is to translate these findings into scalable platforms for disease modeling and therapeutic screening.
Outside of the lab, piano and organ have been a constant his whole life, whether playing solo or with a chamber group, and is overall avid music lover.
Building on experience with gene editing and designing genetic systems, Wisniewski was attracted to the St. Jude Graduate School because of the unparalleled emphasis on translational therapies and treatments. While understanding disease models is invaluable, the ultimate purpose is to enhance patients’ lives and alleviate suffering and using organoids as a system for scalable drug screening and gene/cell therapies. He looks forward to designing and validating treatments (e.g., ASO, CRISPRi, SINEUP) and ensuring his work meets real clinical needs.
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, California
Education:
2025 MS, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California
2024 BA, Neuroscience, University of Southern California
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2025 Honors Capstone Thesis, USC Stem Cell, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
2025 Renaissance Scholar
2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF), USC
2023-24 SOAR Student Opportunities for Academic Research