Inter-Institutional Cooperative Laboratories
Laboratory of Cancer Biology

KATOH Hiroto Assoc. Prof. MD, PhD
Other Affiliations: Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center
Theme
Genomic Pathology, Molecular Biology Using Cutting-edge Technologies, Cell Biology
Keyword
Immune repertoire, single cell analysis, spatial genomics, functional genomics screening
Introduction
My academic background lies in histopathology – the science of examining cancer tissues surgically removed from patients to explore the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Histopathology involves meticulously analyzing the morphology and spatial arrangement of cancer cells, striving to unveil their fundamental nature. In recent years, remarkable advancements in genomic analysis technologies have enabled us to obtain vast amounts of data – including genomic mutations and gene expression profiles – from a single experiment. This technological leap has sparked a revolution in cancer research. In my lab, I build on traditional histopathology while leveraging cutting-edge technologies to accumulate high-resolution, comprehensive data from cancer tissues. Our approach is "data-driven research," aimed at deciphering the molecular mechanisms of cancer through detailed and expansive analyses. I am particularly focused on unraveling the complex interactions between cancer cells and the diverse array of surrounding cells, such as immune cells, within the tumor microenvironment. My ultimate goal is to discover intriguing and impactful findings that can lead to novel cancer therapies and preventive strategies. I am committed to pushing the frontiers of cancer research, driven by the excitement of exploring uncharted territories and making groundbreaking discoveries.
Biography
1996 | Tokai High School |
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2002 | MD, The University of Tokyo |
2006 | PhD, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
2006-2007 | Staff Researcher, Division of Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute |
2008-2011 | Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan |
2011-2013 | Assistant Professor, Division of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Genomic Medicine, Hokkaido University |
2013-2019 | Assistant Professor, Department of Genomic Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University |
2015-2019 | PRESTO, JST (concurrent) |
2019-2024 | Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo |
2024- | Division Head, Division of Pathology, Exploratory Oncology and Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center |
2025- | Cooperative Associate Professor, Inter-Institutional Cooperative Laboratories, Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo |