Kenneth Yamada, M.D., Ph.D.
NIH Distinguished Investigator Cell Biology Section
National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Cell and Developmental Biology Research
Our research focuses on discovering novel mechanisms and regulators of cell interactions with the extracellular matrix and their roles in craniofacial development and disease. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these fundamental processes can provide new approaches to tissue regeneration and therapy for diseases such as cancer. Our group explores how coordination between the three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix of connective tissue or basement membranes, integrins, signal transduction, and cytoskeleton mediates or regulates
Associated Diseases: Developmental defects, cancer
Techniques Used: Multiple techniques in cell, molecular, and developmental biology: Advanced fluorescence, brightfield, and 2-photon microscopy, molecular cloning, transfection, RNA interference, viral gene transfer, 1D, 2D and 3D cell culture, organ culture, transgenic mice, knockout mice, protein isolation, gel electrophoresis, western immunoblotting, quantitative PCR
Specific Field of Study: Cell migration, invasion, and organ morphogenesis