Kenneth (Ken) Yamada received BA, MD, and PhD degrees from Stanford University. He was a Section Chief at the National Cancer Institute for 10 years and a Section/Lab Chief at NIDCR, NIH since 1990 – currently heading the Cell Biology Section. Elected a Fellow of the AAAS in 1991, he received the inaugural Senior Investigator Award of the American Society for Matrix Biology in 2004, Distinguished Scientist Award of the American Association for Dental Research in 2008, election as a Fellow of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) in 2017, and received the inaugural British Society for Matrix Biology gold medal in 2019. He is currently a senior Editor of the Journal of Cell Biology and serves editorial roles at 8 other journals. Ken currently serves on the NIH Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics, NIH Steering Committee Diversity Working Group, and various other NIH committees.
Research in Ken Yamada's lab focuses on on the dynamic interactions and movements of cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix in real time as tissues are remodeled, particularly during branching morphogenesis of organs. His group identifies novel mechanisms and regulators of cell interactions with the extracellular matrix and their roles in tissue remodeling during embryonic development and cancer invasion. Ken’s research team explores how coordination between the three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix of connective tissue or basement membranes, integrin receptors, the cytoskeleton, and signal transduction mediates or regulates key biological processes – cell adhesion, migration, tissue morphogenesis, and cancer cell invasion. They study biological systems that include human primary cells migrating in 3D environments, human tumor cells and tissues, and mouse organ development (salivary glands, lungs, and kidneys). Ken also emphasizes training and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
