O'Ryan Lab
LAB MEMBERS
Principal Investigator (PI): Associate Professor Colleen O`Ryan
I started my career in Molecular Evolution in a group (University of Cape Town) that had a strong interest in mitochondrial function and evolution. Here I completed my PhD in Evolutionary and Population Genetics, which was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Zoology (University College, London, UK).  I have published in the fields of evolutionary, population and behavioural genetics using a range of molecular approaches in combination with demography, behavioural and life-history traits. My research shifted focus in 2014 to examine the association of ASD with epigenetic loci and to understand the molecular pathways that underpin ASD. I am currently an academic in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town (UCT).
Current members of the lab
SOPHIA BAM
PhD Student
After doing a Phylogenetics and Populations Genetics MSc at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, I worked as a DST-NRF Research intern at UCT. My internship period was spread across three different labs, the Leishmania lab, Bacteriology lab and Autism lab at MCB. It was during my internship when I developed an interest in ASD and transcriptomics. My PhD research in the O`Ryan lab focuses on investigating gene expression patterns in ASD in a South African cohort. I have a special interest in quality of life research and the application of Bioinformatics in this area of research.
ERIN BUCHANAN
PhD Student
I completed my undergraduate and Honours degrees at UCT, majoring in Genetics and Biochemistry. My honours project involved investigating the impact of the oxidative stress hydrogen peroxide on mitochondrial morphology and function. I graduated with my MSc in 2022, which investigated how mitochondrial dysfunction affects mitochondrial dynamics and morphology. I am now continuing with my PhD research exploring different methods used to visualize cell morphology and will be experimenting with electron and fluorescence microscopy.
CAITLYN MAHONY
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
I completed my undergraduate BSc and Honours degrees at UCT, where I majored in Genetics and Biochemistry. My PhD focussed on mechanistic cross-talk between mitochondrial metabolism and neurogenesis, while my postdoctoral project builds on this work to study how mitochondrial long non-coding RNAs modulate neuronal stem cell fate. In the long term, I hope to integrate this work with emerging psychosocial literature to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to negative clinical outcomes, autistic burnout, psychopathology and poor quality of life.
GABRIELLE HEMMING
MSc Student
I completed my BSc majoring in Biochemistry & Physiology at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2022. I joined the O'Ryan lab in 2023 as part of my BMedSc (Hons) in Neuroscience & Physiology. I am currently pursuing my MSc degree, which investigates the crosstalk between calcium signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of ASD. My project focuses specifically on a calcium-dependent protein called Doc2B.
DANIE BOTES
PhD Student
I completed my undergraduate and BSc Hons degrees at North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom, specializing in Physiology and Psychology. I obtained my MSc in Biomedical Science at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), focussing on early biomarkers for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Throughout my academic journey, I have maintained a profound interest in mitochondrial and immunological processes which has culminated in my current research on ASD at the University of Cape Town using a multipotent stem cell model to study neuronal development, metabolism and inflammation in vitro.
JORDYN SOLDIN
MSc Student
I completed my BSc in Genetics and Biochemistry at UCT, along with my Honours in Molecular and Cell Biology. This Honours project explored the phase separation potential of Human Transcription Factor IIB and how it may play a significant role as a scaffold protein in the formation of transcription initiation complex condensates. Currently I am completing my MSc in the O' Ryan lab investigating mitochondrial trafficking in a neuronal-like cell line and how this trafficking is affected when the system is exposed to propionic acid, inducing mitochondrial stress. I have a special interest in the phase separation potential of synaptic and neuronal proteins, and how dysfunction in these processes leads to varied pathologies.
CHLOE GOLDMAN
Hons Student
I completed my BSc in Genetics and Biochemistry at UCT in 2024, and I am currently completing my Honours in Molecular and Cell Biology in the O’ Ryan lab. My project focuses on the effect of metabolic stress on neural stem cell fate. Particularly, I will investigate how propionic acid affects the expression of the neuronal cell marker, MAP2 versus the glial cell marker, GFAP in a population of differentiated ReNcell CX neural stem cells, as well as identify changes in cell morphology in response to metabolic stress. I have a strong interest in ASD research and in uncovering the molecular mechanisms that drive neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Past lab members
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​Dr Sofia Stathopoulos – Postdoctoral Researcher (2014-2016)
Dr Katelyn Cuttler - Post Doctoral Fellow (2023 - 2024)
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Caitlyn Mahony - PhD (2025)
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Mignon van Der Watt - MSc (2024)
Erin Buchanan - MSc (2023)
Gerrit Van Wyk – MSc (2017)
Marita De Waal – MSc (2016)
Michaella Hulley – MSc (2016)
Katie Hamilton - MSc (2014)
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Isabella Tanzer - Honours (2023)
Gabrielle Hemming - Honours (2023)
Sarah Macleod - Honours (2022)
Talya Kebonte - Honours (2022)
Aqeelah Sedick - Honours (2021)
David Newey – Honours (2017)
Luqman Mohamed – Honours (2016)
Bianca Abrahams – Honours (2015)
Shelley Smith – Honours (2014)
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Antonette Nell – Research Assistant (2017 - 2018)
Melissa Stander – Research Assistant (2017-2018)
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Sophia Bam – DST-NRF Research Intern (2019)​
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