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In 1971, Dr. Wayne Ryan founded Streck Laboratories, Inc., which delivered groundbreaking advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases worldwide through cutting-edge molecular diagnostics, with a focus on hematology.
At a time when blood cells were still being counted manually using microscopes, Dr. Ryan developed the company's core technology of cell stabilization, thus allowing for an accurate system of calibrating platelet-counting devices. This innovation positively impacted laboratories worldwide and propelled Streck Laboratories to develop further solutions for the clinical laboratory."
The Ryan Foundation was founded in 1990, by Wayne and Eileen Ryan, to ensure their passion for supporting charitable causes in medical research, healthcare and Catholic education would live on after them.
The Dr. Wayne Ryan Clinic and Research Center
“Always an innovator and researcher at heart, I think that Dr. Ryan would be excited about the life-changing care, driven by research, that this new facility will be offering our patients and how the groundbreaking work done here will influence clinicians across the globe," said Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital.Just as Boys Town is committed to Changing the Way America Cares for Children, Dr. Ryan dedicated his career to advancing personalized diagnostics and treatments that improve health and well-being for those most in need. The shared goal of helping people live healthier, happier lives unites Boys Town, Dr. Ryan, and the Ryan Foundation in purpose and impact.
Dr. Ryan recognized the transformative potential of scientific innovation to improve patient care. Boys Town embraces that same vision—believing that the integration of cutting-edge research with clinical expertise can lead to life-changing treatments and even cures. The new 123,000-square-foot, purpose-built research wing will foster seamless collaboration between researchers and clinicians, accelerating breakthroughs and delivering greater benefits to the children and families we serve.
A Mentor and a Friend
M. Rohan Fernando, Ph.D., Director of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Boys Town, recalls working with Dr. Ryan for over 10 years. Dr. Fernando joined Streck, Inc., in 2007 and recalled, “I had worked with many scientists over the years, but never before had I encountered a scientist who was also a true entrepreneur. The way Dr. Ryan interviewed me immediately conveyed his intelligence, vision and entrepreneurial spirit. It was clear that he was not only evaluating me as a scientist but also sharing his passion for innovation."
Working under Dr. Ryan was a transformative experience for Dr. Fernando. “Within two years, we successfully developed and commercialized novel devices that quickly gained international attention," Dr. Fernando remembered. Clinical laboratories around the world adopted these products, and demand soared. Along the way, there were several peer-reviewed papers and multiple patent applications. “None of this would have been possible without Dr. Ryan's visionary thinking, strategic direction and steadfast belief in the importance of our work," said Dr. Fernando.
“Dr. Ryan was not only a brilliant scientist and entrepreneur but also a kind and compassionate human being. He never failed to ask how we were doing and he supported us through difficult times, always reminding us that science is not just about discovery but also about people," Dr. Fernando said about his long-time mentor.
A Small Town Boy with Big Aspirations
Born in Corning, Iowa, in 1927, Dr. Ryan's fascination with science began during his eighth-grade chemistry class, which led he and his brother Don to have a room at home known as “the lab." At 18, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After his service he began pursuing his passion for science with determination, earning a Bachelor of Science and a master's degree in Biochemistry from Creighton University, followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri.
From Academia to Founding Streck
After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Ryan returned to Creighton University as a member of the medical school faculty. For ten years he taught classes and mentored students at his old alma mater. Presented with the opportunity to run a program training researchers at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Ryan made the move in 1963. After nine years of teaching classes, training researchers, running ground-breaking research and consulting on weekends with Armour Pharmaceuticals, a Chicago-based drug company, Dr. Ryan was ready for a change.
Having learned many important facets of the pharmaceutical business while consulting, Dr. Ryan decided that founding his own company was an ideal alternative to being away from his family for part of every weekend. So fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit, armed with a vast research background and ready to make a global impact in diagnosing and treating diseases through his breakthrough work, Dr. Ryan founded Streck Laboratories, Inc. During his career, Dr. Ryan received over 60 patents and was inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame in 2007.
Making the World Better
Dr. Wayne L. Ryan passed away in 2017 at the age of 90. To the very last, he embodied the qualities of a great scientist, a visionary entrepreneur, a generous mentor and a compassionate human being. “His legacy lives on in the products he pioneered, the discoveries he championed, and the countless lives he touched—mine included," said Dr. Rohan Fernando. “I will always remember him not only as a brilliant mind but as a truly good man who dedicated his life to making the world better through science."