Takakazu Yokokura
Okinawa Institute Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan
Biography
Takakazu Yokokura has his expertise in genetics and molecular biology and passion in finding approaches to cure devastated neurological disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Animal model that he and his colleague established for SMA study, which is established in invertebrate, has shed light on gene networks Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) gene is integrated in. His study has focused on elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms that low levels of SMN leads to manifestation of SMA neuromuscular pathological phenotypes.