Three researchers from Oregon Health & Science University have been recognized with grant awards of $750,000 over three years for their innovative work to improve human health.
The OHSU Faculty Excellence and Innovation Awards, funded by the Silver Family Innovation Fund, supports exceptionally creative early- and middle-stage research.
The 2025 recipients are Renee Ryals, Ph.D., Summer Gibbs, Ph.D., and Robert Eil, M.D.
"These scientists are dedicated to improving human health in several areas, namely retinal degeneration, nerve injuries and advanced cancers," said Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., OHSU chief research officer and executive vice president. "These awards celebrate the scientists whose innovative approaches will fuel discovery and ignite transformative collaborations, shaping the future of research and innovation, and propelling OHSU's mission forward."
OHSU deans, center and institute directors, and department chairs nominated candidates from their respective units, and applications were reviewed by prominent scientists from institutions around the country.
Awardee profiles
Renee Ryals, Ph.D.
Associate professor of ophthalmology in the OHSU School of Medicine and OHSU Casey Eye Institute
Ryals specializes in the development of gene- and cell-based therapies for inherited retinal degenerations, known as IRD. IRDs are genetic conditions that lead to blindness because of mutations in the genes that affect the retina, the part of the eye that processes visual information. More than 280 different genes are known to cause these retinal diseases. Ryals uses advanced technologies, including CRISPR and other gene-editing tools, to help find potential treatments for IRD patients.
Ryals' project aims to create gene-editing treatments for the most common IRD mutations. The project has three main steps: The first step is to test the gene-editing tools for these mutations using patient-derived cell samples. The second step is to develop a safe, non-viral delivery system to carry the gene-editing tools into patients' cells. The third step involves testing these tools in nonhuman primates to ensure they are safe and effective. The goal is to gather enough data to apply for approval to begin clinical trials.
In her research, Ryals extensively works on optimizing lipid nanoparticles, which are tiny particles that can carry gene-editing tools or other gene therapies to the right place in the body. She collaborates with experts from several institutions, including OHSU's Molecular and Medical Genetics Division, Oregon State University's College of Pharmacy, and the Devers Eye Institute at Legacy Health. This broad network allows her team to test their treatments in different animal models, from small rodents to larger primates.
The funding will allow Ryals to continue her research and overcome challenges in developing effective gene-editing treatments. With more funding, her team can test and improve their gene-editing tools and delivery systems, which could lead to new treatments for IRDs and other genetic diseases. Her work holds the promise of improving the lives of people with inherited retinal degenerations and potentially other ophthalmic genetic conditions.
Summer Gibbs, Ph.D.
Douglas Strain Endowed Professorship in the OHSU School of Medicine
Professor of biomedical engineering in the OHSU School of Medicine and OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
About 225 million people worldwide suffer from nerve injuries each year, but current tools for diagnosing and monitoring nerve health, especially during surgery, are limited. Gibbs' project is working to change that with advanced imaging tools.
Gibbs' project focuses on creating two new imaging technologies to help doctors better understand nerve health. One of these tools will help surgeons identify and assess nerves during surgery using a special fluorescent probe. The other tool will allow doctors to monitor nerve health and recovery in a less invasive way by using whole-body imaging. The technology used for both tools is based on a nerve-specific small molecule probe that Gibbs and her team have developed during the past decade. This probe can not only help identify nerves during surgery, but also it can show changes in nerve tissue when damage occurs.
The first part of Gibbs' work involves improving the fluorescent probe to make it more effective for use in surgery. This would allow surgeons to make better decisions when it comes to treating nerve injuries. The second part involves using the same probe in a nuclear imaging technique that can track nerve health and recovery over time, all without needing to perform surgery or other invasive procedures. These technologies could transform the way nerve injuries are treated, making it easier to diagnose and monitor nerve health in real time.
With more than 20 years of experience in molecular imaging, Gibbs' research has led to the development of nerve-specific contrast agents that are now being tested in clinical settings. These agents help surgeons see nerves more clearly during surgery. Gibbs is now expanding her work to test these imaging tools in animal models and evaluate their potential for tracking nerve recovery and monitoring neuropathies, conditions that affect nerve function.
By advancing these imaging tools, Gibbs hopes to provide doctors with more accurate ways to assess nerve health, improving treatment and recovery for patients with nerve injuries and related conditions. Her research could lead to a major shift in how nerve injuries are diagnosed and treated, benefiting millions of people worldwide.
Robert Eil, M.D.
Assistant professor of surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine
Eil is working to develop a new treatment for advanced colon and pancreatic cancers using engineered immune cells called CAR-T cells. While CAR-T therapies have been successful for certain blood cancers, such as lymphoma, they have not worked as well for gastrointestinal cancers such as colon and pancreatic cancer. Eil's project aims to solve problems that have limited CAR-T cell effectiveness, including poor performance, short lifespan, harmful immune reactions and difficulty applying the treatment in clinical settings.
One of the main challenges in using CAR-T cells for gastrointestinal cancers is that tumors can block the immune system's ability to function. Eil is focusing on enhancing T cell function by testing genetic changes that boost immune signaling. Another challenge is that CAR-T cells often don't survive long enough in the body. To address this, Eil is experimenting with new methods for making T cells and reprogramming them to survive longer. Additionally, CAR-T cells can cause harmful immune reactions, so his team is working on directing these cells specifically to the liver and pancreas to reduce side effects.
Eil and his team are also improving the process of producing CAR-T cells for use in clinical treatments. This involves developing better techniques for making the cells in large quantities and ensuring they are safe for patients. Once these methods are refined, Eil plans to begin clinical trials, starting with patients who have colorectal liver metastasis, a condition responsible for thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year. This trial will test the new CAR-T cell therapy in real patients.
Eil's background includes training in surgical oncology and immunology, which he gained at the National Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His research combines his knowledge of cancer treatment with his experience as a surgeon, allowing him to address key challenges in current therapies.
With the project funding, Eil's research could lead to better treatments for people with advanced colon and pancreatic cancers, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
All research involving animal subjects at OHSU must be reviewed and approved by the university's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC's priority is to ensure the health and safety of animal research subjects. The IACUC also reviews procedures to ensure the health and safety of the people who work with the animals. The IACUC conducts a rigorous review of all animal research proposals to ensure they demonstrate scientific value and justify the use of live animals.
