Join Us in Welcoming Dr. Ryan Nelson, Our Newest Addition to the Center for Immunology

The Center for Immunology (CFI) is thrilled to welcome back Dr. Ryan Nelson as he rejoins the university in the capacity of a physician-scientist within the Department of Pediatrics. A proud alumnus of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Nelson's expertise in CD4+ T cell specificity and memory cell formation, cultivated under the mentorship of Dr. Marc Jenkins, forms a sturdy foundation for his career as a physician-scientist.

In his clinical role, Dr. Nelson specializes in primary immunodeficiencies, immune dysregulation disorders, and allergic diseases. He is excited by the opportunity to help expand the care for children with immune disorders in the division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Minnesota. brings

Dr. Nelson brings a wealth of academic and professional experience, having completed his Pediatrics residency and Allergy/Immunology fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital and serving as an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. During his postdoctoral research with Dr. Andrew Luster at Massachusetts General, he further enriched his understanding of human T-cell biology and allergen-specific immunity, offering insights into the intricacies of the immune system.

Dr. Nelson's dual role as a physician-scientist facilitates the integration of cutting-edge research with patient care, fostering a unique synergy between discovery and treatment. His current research pursuits, spanning CD4+ T cell specificity, functional diversity, trafficking, and memory, exemplify a comprehensive approach to tackling immune-related challenges. By bridging the gap between basic research and clinical applications, Dr. Nelson endeavors to unravel the complexities of human variability in adaptive immunity.

Driven by the aspiration to uncover novel pathways informing the development of more effective therapies for patients with immune disorders, Dr. Nelson aims to establish a translational research program employing innovative approaches to delineate factors influencing human adaptive immunity to pathogens and maladaptive responses to allergens and self-tissues.

Dr. Nelson's eagerness to return to the University of Minnesota and the Center for Immunology underscores his desire to continue his impactful work within a supportive and collaborative environment that profoundly impacted his early career development. With his expertise and unwavering passion for advancing immunology research, the Center for Immunology is poised to reap significant benefits from his presence.

If you'd like to reach out to Dr. Ryan Nelson, you can find him in his office in CCRB 4-126 or in his lab in 4-230. Feel free to stop by and say "hi"!