Ryan Creeth
Post Doctoral Research Associate

Profile

Biography

Ryan Creeth is a plant molecular biologist specialising in non-transgenic approaches to genome editing. As a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP), Ryan is developing non-transgenic genome editing techniques in lettuce using a novel gene regulatory network (GRN) to generate resistance to Botrytis cinerea (grey mould). This work forms part of the 'Engineering gene regulatory networks for crop disease-resistance' project in partnership with the University of Cambridge and the John Innes Centre.

He has a PhD from Cranfield University, where he developed novel protoplast isolation, transfection, and regeneration methods in raspberry, becoming the first person to apply CRISPR systems to raspberry in a peer-reviewed context. He previously worked at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Defra) as a histology and microscopy expert, and studied MSci Biology at the University of Bristol. His thesis focused on utilising carbon dot nanomaterials as a transient vector for genome editing in wheat. He has expertise in plant tissue and cell culture, confocal and electron microscopy, molecular biology and histology.

Fun fact about Ryan: His grandad proved the existence of hydrogen bonds in DNA in his own PhD thesis in the 1940s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Creeth), contributing to Watson and Crick's discovery of the structure of DNA.

Research

Overview

A plant molecular biologist specialising in genome editing, protoplast techniques and microscopy.

Projects

Engineering gene regulatory networks for crop disease-resistance.

Research group(s)

Denby Lab

Publications

Selected publications

DNA-free CRISPR genome editing in raspberry (Rubus idaeus) protoplast through RNP-mediated transfection

Low hanging fruit: harvesting the potential of DNA-free genome editing in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Phage biocontrol to combat Pseudomonas syringae pathogens causing disease in cherry

External activities

Memberships

Genetics Society

Invited talks and conferences

Genetics of Future of Food Production, Genetics Society (Newcastle, Nov 2023): RNP-mediated Genome Editing in Raspberry.

TUBERGENE – Bringing GE to the Table (Lincoln, Mar 2025): DNA-free Genome Editing in Raspberry Protoplast.

12th Rosaceae Genomics Conference (Costa Brava, May 2025): DNA-free Genome Editing in and Protoplast Culture in Raspberry.

1st AAB/PlantEd All About CRISPR Webinar (Online, September 2025): DNA-free Genome Editing and Protoplast Culture in Raspberry.

Media coverage

ITV Interview on Gene-Edited Raspberries

Press Release: In Search of the Perfect Raspberry

Could Pioneering Gene-Editing Cut Waste and Make Raspberries Tastier?

Raspberry Breeding and Gene-Editing Breakthroughs

Breakthrough in Raspberry Shelf Life

Cranfield University Sheds Light on Raspberry Gene Editing

CRISPR Red Raspberry: Cranfield's Fight Against Grey Mold Resistance

Rethinking the Raspberry: DNA-Free Gene-Editing Opens a New Chapter in Precision Agriculture

First DNA-Free Gene-Editing Raspberry Plants Using CRISPR

Pioneering Raspberry Genome Editing Technique Could Be the Future of Fruit and Farming

Raspberries Are One of the Quickest Fruits to Spoil — That May Soon Change