Ryan Thummel
Office Phone
313-577-7762
Biography
Ryan Thummel, Ph.D., is the associate dean of Research and Graduate Programs for the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Dr. Thummel, who joined the faculty in 2009, has dedicated his efforts to training and teaching graduate and medical students in the classroom and the laboratory. He serves as the co-course director for the first- and second-year research elective and course director for the M.S./Ph.D. seminar and professional development course. He is the faculty advisor for three student organizations, as well as the director of the Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences doctoral program and the M.D./Ph.D. director.
Dr. Thummel has received multiple awards highlighting his dedication to teaching and research: The College Teaching Award (2016, 2020), The Paul Dragan Children’s Memorial Award (2019), The Lamp Award for Medical Teaching Excellence (2019, 2024), Career Development Chair (2020), Difference Maker Award (2021), Most Influential Faculty Member (2023), and The Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (2024).
Dr. Thummel’s primary research focuses on retinal development and regeneration in zebrafish, a model to study neurodegenerative diseases, to better understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie retinal regeneration in the species. He has a second project in the lab focused on developing zebrafish models for childhood cancers. Dr. Thummel’s research is supported by prestigious sources, including the National Eye Institute, Kids Without Cancer Foundation, The Children’s Foundation, a direct gift from a donor, the P30 Vision Core grant to the department and Research to Prevent Blindness to the Kresge Eye Institute.
Faculty Appointments
Research Educator, Full time, Ph.D., Histology and Cell Biology, Embryology