Yoshi Itoh

Yoshi Itoh is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, leading the Cell Migration Group within the Botnar Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. His research focuses on the shared mechanisms of cellular invasion and tissue destruction in arthritis and cancer, with a particular emphasis on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular matrix dynamics.

• Education:
  • MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo College of Pharmacy (1991)
  • PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (1996)
• Career History:
  • Assistant Professor at Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo (1997)
  • Principal Investigator at Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London (2001)
  • Relocated to University of Oxford with Kennedy Institute

Research Interests center on cell migration, MT1-MMP regulation, collagen receptor signaling, and ECM degradation in inflammatory and oncological contexts. His work bridges musculoskeletal biology and cancer metastasis through common molecular pathways.

Recent Publications highlight his group's insights into microglial interactions with ECM in neurobiology, MT1-MMP trafficking in migratory cells, and DDR2-MT1-MMP collaboration in fibroblasts. These align with his long-standing contributions to MMP targeting in arthritis and cancer.

Laboratory: The Cell Migration Group investigates molecular drivers of cell invasion using advanced in vitro and in vivo models, with implications for both musculoskeletal diseases and oncology.