Dr. Ryann Fame, PhD, joined the faculty at Stanford University in 2022. Following her undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry at the College of William & Mary, Dr. Fame completed a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University. She conducted postdoctoral fellowships at The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT and at Boston Children’s Hospital Pathology Department.  As a stem cell and developmental molecular biologist, Dr. Fame is dedicated to broad collaboration focused on translating an understanding of neural development and CSF biology into regenerative strategies for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disease.

Early neural progenitors respond to extrinsic cues that maintain and support their potency. These stem/ progenitor cells are in direct contact with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which acts as part of their niche. Dr. Fame's research program encompasses the early neural stem cell niche, neural tube closure, CSF, metabolism, and cortical neuronal development. They are dedicated to broad collaboration focused on translating an understanding of neurodevelopment and CSF biology into regenerative strategies.