Hiroki Yokota, PhD

The Yoneda lab focuses on the bone tumor microenvironment, with a particular interest in crosstalk between bone and breast cancer cells in bony metastases.  They are also interested in the pathophysiology of cancer-associated bone pain, and the role of microenvironment pH in that process. The Yoneda lab’s third area of interest is in the role of numerous transcription factors in chondrogenesis. Dr. Yoneda has a unique track record in training young scientists who are interested in studying bone biology. He trained 18 postdocs from all over the world since 1997, and has trained 28 dental graduate students in a DDS/PhD program. Many of them are currently working in the bone field as faculty member in academic institutes in Japan. Trainees that come into the Yoneda lab will learn experimental techniques associated with osteoclast biology, tumor cell culture, analysis and quantification of bone and breast neoplasms, in vitro chondrocyte culture and analysis, and methods to study signal transduction.