Centre senior Ryan Reynolds

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College senior Ryan Reynolds, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Sumter, S.C., is the lead author of an article published in the current issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, the leading "original papers" publication in the field of general pharmacology.

The article, titled "Growth Factor Signaling in Prostatic Growth: Significance in Tumor Development and Therapeutic Targeting," is based on research Reynolds did this past summer at the University of Kentucky with Dr. Natasha Kyprianou. It covers a number of growth factors (and their signaling pathways) involved in the development of prostate cancer, as well as the therapeutic methods being undertaken to target the disease.

"It's really exciting to get it published in such a high-impact journal," Reynolds said.

"Working with Dr. Kyprianou was an amazing experience. From day one she immersed me into the lab and all of the experiments that she was currently undertaking with her team. She made it clear to me early on that I would have a shared responsibility in helping to perform experiments and document the results."

"In addition, knowing that I was working with one of the world leaders in the study of prostate cancer was pretty cool, as well."

BJP is the official journal of the British Pharmacological Society, publishing independently peer-reviewed research and review material. It also publishes authoritative review articles and correspondence items.

Stephen Asmus, Dowling Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Centre, was pleased but unsurprised by Reynolds' accomplishment.

"Ryan is an extremely dedicated, hard-working, bright student who is a very good writer. I'm not surprised that his research mentor felt comfortable handing over a major writing project to him so early in his career. This was a great opportunity for Ryan to use the skills that he's been honing at Centre to write a 'real' published research paper. I suspect that this will be the first of many papers, if Ryan chooses to work in a clinical research setting after medical school."

Reynold is also involved with Centre’s service-based, work-study Bonner program, and was recently chosen Volunteer of the Month for his work developing an after-school program for community children.  For more on Reynolds' service work, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/2004/septvom04.html.

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