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Wayne Yokoyama, MD, Rheumatology, Saint Louis, MO

WayneMYokoyamaMD

Rheumatology Saint Louis, MO

Professor, Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine

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Summary

  • Dr. Yokoyama is a rheumatologist and physician-scientist who directs a basic immunology laboratory. His lab has been credited with seminal discoveries regarding the molecular basis for natural killer (NK) cell function, including the “missing-self hypothesis” which explains how NK cells discriminate between tumors and virus-infected cells they should kill and normal cells they should ignore. More recently, his lab has contributed to understanding the molecular basis for human autoimmune diseases, including HLA-B27-associated disorders, such as ankylosing spondylitis and anterior uveitis. In addition, he has devoted significant energy to the training of physician-scientists as the Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University, one of the nation’s largest integrated MD-PhD programs for pre-doctoral students, and as Associate Dean and inaugural Director of the Division of Physician-Scientists which provides institutional support for post-graduate physician-scientist training. His awards include the Novartis Prize for Basic Immunology, the Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize for Research in Arthritis, and a MERIT Award from the NIH. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists and a Master of the American College of Rheumatology. He was an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and President of the American Association of Immunologists. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Annual Review of Immunology, one of the world’s most cited journals.

Education & Training

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterFellowship, Allergy and Immunology, 1985 - 1989
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
    University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsFellowship, Rheumatology, 1981 - 1985
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
    University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsResidency, Internal Medicine, 1978 - 1981
  • University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
    University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of MedicineClass of 1978

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 1989 - Present
  • MO State Medical License
    MO State Medical License 1996 - 2025
  • IA State Medical License
    IA State Medical License 1978 - 1990
  • IL State Medical License
    IL State Medical License 1981 - 1984
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Rheumatology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Distinguished Fellow American Association of Immunologists, 2020
  • Master American College of Rheumatology, 2018
  • President American Association of Immunologists, 2017
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • WDFY4 Is Required for Cross-Presentation in Response to Viral and Tumor Antigens  
    Herbert W Virgin, Kenneth M Murphy, William E Gillanders, Wayne Yokoyama, Science Magazine

Press Mentions

  • Toriola Named Danforth WashU Physician-Scientist Scholar
    Toriola Named Danforth WashU Physician-Scientist ScholarOctober 14th, 2022
  • Toriola Named Danforth WashU Physician-Scientist Scholar
    Toriola Named Danforth WashU Physician-Scientist ScholarOctober 14th, 2022
  • Induced CD45 Proximity Potentiates Natural Killer Cell Receptor Antagonism
    Induced CD45 Proximity Potentiates Natural Killer Cell Receptor AntagonismSeptember 28th, 2022
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Grant Support

  • Innate NK Cell Responses To Viral InfectionsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2009–2012
  • NK Cell Response To MCMV InfectionsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2007–2012
  • National Research Science Award-Medical ScientistNational Institute Of General Medical Sciences2010–2011
  • Invivo Development Of Natural Killer CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2007–2011
  • Activation Receptors On NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2003–2011
  • Rheumatic Diseases Core CenterNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2001–2011
  • Conference Of The Society For Natural ImmunityNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2010
  • National Research Science Award - Medical ScientistNational Institute Of General Medical Sciences2007–2009
  • Innate NK Cell Responses To Poxvirus InfectionsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2008
  • Viral Discovery In Rheumatoid ArthritisNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2007
  • Administrative CoreNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2007
  • Immunobiology Of The Rheumatic DiseasesNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1997–2007
  • Specificity Of Murine CMV Resistance By NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2003–2006
  • In Vivo Development Of Natural Killer CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2003–2006
  • Conference Of The Society For Natural ImmunityNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2005
  • Conference On Innate Immunity To PathogensNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2004–2005
  • Linking Innate With Adaptive Immune ResponseNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2003
  • In Vivo Development Of Natural Killer CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2002–2003
  • Specificity Of Murine CMV Resistance By NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2002
  • Activation Receptors On NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2002
  • Role Of SYK In Natural Killer Cell FunctionNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases2000–2002
  • Expression, Specificity, And Function Of LY49 FamilyNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1999–2001
  • NK Cells In Innate Immunity To PathogensNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1997–2000
  • Interaction Of MHC With LY 49a On NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1996–2000
  • Expression, Specificity And Function Of Ly-49 FamilyNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1995–1998
  • Natural Killer Cell Function In AutoimmunityNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1997
  • Expression, Specificity And Function Of Ly-49 FamilyNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1994–1995
  • Interaction Of MHC With Ly-49 On NK CellsNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1992–1994
  • Molecular Characterization Of The A1 Multigene FamilyNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1992–1993
  • Molecular Characterization Of The A1 Multigene FamilyNational Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases1990–1991
  • Regulation Of Interleukin-2 ActivityNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1986
  • Regulation Of Interleukin-2 ActivityNat Inst Of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive &Kidney Diseases1985
  • Drug Effects On Antibody Synthesis In VitroNat Inst Of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive &Kidney Diseases1985

Professional Memberships