Biography
Dr. Pam Van Ry met her husband, Kevin, at BYU during her undergraduate studies. After they married in the Salt Lake Temple, they moved to Reno, Nevada, where both pursued their undergraduate degrees. Following Kevin’s graduation in English and Philosophy, they relocated to Spokane, Washington, for him to attend Gonzaga University for law school. When Kevin was offered a position as a law clerk in Reno Justice Court, the couple returned to Reno, where Dr. Van Ry completed her B.S. in Chemistry.
With her chemistry degree, Dr. Van Ry worked as a private science and math tutor while her children were young and also taught chemistry and science at a charter school. As her children got older, she returned to graduate school and earned a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Van Ry and her husband lived in Reno for 20 years, where they raised their two children.
Since 2017, Dr. Van Ry has been a faculty member in BYU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Outside of work and family life, she and Kevin enjoy fly fishing together and have loved traveling to beautiful destinations around the world in this pursue.
Research Interests
The Van Ry Lab is a translational research group bridging the gap between basic science and clinical medicine. They use traditional 2D cell culture along with spheroid, distal lung organoids and animal models to investigate disease pathogenesis and possible therapeutics approaches for pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. Additionally, the Van Ry lab has been developing a treatment using recombinant galectin-1 as a protein therapy for muscular dystrophy. The lab stresses the importance of using techniques and models that mimic human patient conditions as closely as possible. For example, the pulmonary teams use the same clinical endpoints in live animal models that are used in patients with lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis such as micro-CT scans and pulmonary function tests.Teaching Interests
Dr. Pam Van Ry is passionate about helping students become active, confident learners—students who can ask good questions, test ideas, and take ownership of their learning in ways that serve them long after the course ends. In Bio-Organic Chemistry (CHEM 285) and Introductory Biochemistry (CHEM 481), Dr. Van Ry uses interactive, student-centered approaches that make complex mechanisms feel coherent and useful rather than intimidating. She especially enjoys teaching pre-med students and guiding them to connect molecular details to real outcomes—how biochemical pathways work together to sustain health, and what happens when those same processes are disrupted in disease. Her teaching is grounded in clarity, engagement, and high expectations paired with support, and she was honored to receive the Roland K. Robins Faculty Service Teaching Award (2026).Education
- Ph.D.-Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, , University of Nevada-Reno (2014)
- BS-Chemistry Field of Concentration, Chemistry , University of Nevada-Reno (2000)
Honors and Awards
- New Directions in Biology and Disease of Skeletal Muscle Conference Industry Outreach Workshop Award (2016 - 2016)
- New Directions in Biology and Disease of Skeletal Muscle Conference Outstanding Poster Award (2016 - 2016)
- Department of Pharmacology Graduate Research Student of the Year, University of Nevada School of Medicine (2014 - 2015)
Memberships
- American Thoracic Society (2018 - Present)
- American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (2019 - 2020)
- National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) (2014 - 2017)