Ryan Driskell, Ph.D.
Dr. Driskell is the head of the Fibroblast and Skin Regeneration Laboratory at the School of Molecular Biosciences in Washington State University. He trained as a Cell and Developmental Biologists in the laboratory of Dr. John Engelhardt at the University of Iowa where he received his Ph.D. in 2006 studying lung biology and Wnt signaling. Dr. Driskell did his post-doctoral training in Dr. Fiona Watt’s Laboratories at Cambridge University and King’s College London in the UK, where he established a functional fibroblast lineage hierarchy that is important in regulating the architectural nature of skin development and wound repair. The Driskell Laboratory utilizes the transgenic mouse technologies in conjunction with molecular and histological techniques to deduce an understanding to induce skin regeneration.
Contact: ryan.driskell@wsu.edu
Iwona Driskell, Ph.D
Dr. Driskell has a BS and MS in Biochemistry from University of Illinois and University of Iowa respectively. She moved to the United Kingdom and obtained her Ph.D. at University of Cambridge in stem cell biology while working in the laboratory of Dr. Michaela Frye. Her graduate work focused on defining an understanding of epigenetic mechanisms that regulate stem cells in the hair follicle during homeostasis and wound repair. Following graduation, Dr. Driskell joined the biotech industry as a specialist providing technical support for customer at stem cell focused companies (Axol Biosciences Ltd. and STEMCELL Technologies Inc.). On her return to the United States, she joined WSU and is currently an Assistant Research Professor investigating the mechanisms involved in wound healing and how to manipulate fibroblasts to induce skin regeneration
Contact: iwona.driskell@wsu.edu
Graduate Students
Jasson Makkar
Jasson Makkar is a graduate student in the School of Molecular Biosciences. He joined the Driskell Lab in spring 2022, during which time he has focused on manipulating genes for treatment of disease and disorders.
Contact: jasson.makkar@wsu.edu
Sean Thompson
Sean is majoring in Genetics & Cell Biology at Washington State University and is a member of the STARS Program and the Honors College. He joined the lab as a freshman in January of 2019. His work currently involves single cell data analysis of fibroblasts and other cell types. Sean’s hobbies include playing the viola, listening to music, biking, and climbing.
Contact: sean.thompson@wsu.edu
Undergraduate Students
Corin Yanke
Corin has been involved in the Driskell Lab since fall of 2021 during which time she has focused on skin cancer and how the structure of skin changes between healthy and diseased tissue. In her free time, Corin loves to be active playing sports such as soccer and hockey.
Contact: corin.yanke@wsu.edu
Violet Yaple
Violet has been working in the Driskell Lab since the Summer of 2022. She runs the histology group within the laboratory. Violet enjoys spending time with her cat – who has several extra toes.
Contact: violet.yaple@wsu.edu
Tommy Duong
Tommy is an electrical engineering major in the Voiland School of Architecture and Engineering. He joined the lab in 2022 and focuses on developing tools for skinregeneration.org. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a field in developing technology and software. In his free time, he develops his skills as a digital artist.
Contact: tommy.duong@wsu.edu
Sam Kindl
Sam is a Genetics and Cell Biology Major and joined the Driskell Lab in 2021. His research interests are in understanding aging, longevity, and the biological applications of machine learning. Sam’s ultimate goals would be to become a professor. In his free time, Sam enjoys working with computers. He generated the third version of skinregeneration.org from the ground up.
Contact: sam.kindl@wsu.edu
Charlotte Kommini
Charlotte has been a part of the Driskell Lab since August of 2022 and is a Molecular Biosciences Major. Her project in the lab is focused on understanding Langer lines in mice.
Contact: charlotte.kommini@wsu.edu