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Toshi Yokota

@tyokota.bsky.social
21 followers 9 following 59 posts

Molecular Geneticist| RNA Therapeutics Innovator| FCAHS Canadian Academy Fellow| Distinguished Professor@UAlberta| Driving innovation in genetic medicine

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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Congratulations to Rida, featured in @wchriuofa.bsky.social 2026 Summer Studentship profiles! Her project explored eight DG9 peptide variants to advance safer, less invasive, whole-body ASO delivery for spinal muscular atrophy. Supported by @stollerykids.bsky.social www.wchri.org/our-impact/s...
wchri.org
Rida Shaikh – WCHRI
Summary: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe inherited disease that affects infants and young children, causing progressive muscle weakness and difficulty breathing. It occurs when the body lack...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Very pleased that our team has received a $918,000 CIHR Project Grant to develop DG9-PMO as a systemic, body-wide treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. Grateful to our trainees, collaborators, CIHR and the SMA community. #SMA #CIHR #RNAtherapeutics www.ualberta.ca/en/news/news...
ualberta.ca
U of A experts aim to advance life-changing health research
Health researchers at the University of Alberta will lead projects exploring next-generation treatments, advanced AI diagnostics, health-care equity and chronic disease recovery, thanks to $20.4 milli...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Our 2026 Friends of Garrett Cumming Research Chair Report is now available. Highlights include advances in DG9-mediated oligonucleotide delivery, Indigenous-partnered SBMA research, personalized N-of-1 therapies, and more than $2.5M in new CIHR funding. sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/...
sites.google.com
Yokota Lab - Research Chair
Advancing the Future of Muscular Dystrophy Research A Legacy Inspired by Garrett Cumming Garrett Cumming was three years old when he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe gene...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Great news! Our review on patient-customized N-of-1 antisense oligonucleotide therapy has been selected as a Genes Editorial Choice. It has reached >12,000 readers and >20 citations. Congratulations to Harry Wilton-Clark and Eric Yan! doi.org/10.3390/gene... #Nof1 #RareDisease
doi.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Excited to share our new article Molecular Diagnosis to Individualized Therapies in Rare Genetic Diseases: New Approach Methodologies, RNA Therapeutics, and the Case for a Human-First Filter www.mdpi.com/3965648 #mdpigenes
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Excited to share that our article, “Building CRISPR-Based Gene-Editing Platforms for Personalized Medicine: The Next Step in Interventional Genetics,” has been featured on the cover of the June 2026 issue of Genes. Congratulations to the team.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17/6
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Congratulations to Harry and our team on our new PNAS publication. We report that DMD-Null mice exhibit severe muscle weakness, impaired regeneration, and deficient satellite cell function. grateful to @wchriuofa.bsky.social @heartandstroke.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Congratulations to Harry and Alishba on our new review: The Multi-System Roles of Dp71 Dystrophin Isoforms in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy We summarize Dp71 roles in brain, retina, skeletal/cardiac muscle, and emerging therapeutic strategies www.mdpi.com/3930242 @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Grateful to Folio for highlighting our work on RNA-based therapeutics for FOP. We sincerely appreciate the support from the Canadian FOP Network, iFOPA, @wchriuofa.bsky.social, Rare Disease Foundation, @stollerykids.bsky.social and all partners advancing FOP research. www.ualberta.ca/en/news/spot...
ualberta.ca
RNA-based treatment offers hope to people with rare ossifying disease
A University of Alberta medical genetics research team is developing an RNA-based treatment for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a rare disease that turns muscles and tendons to bone.
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Congrats to Takayuki on receiving a CIHR Postdoc Award through the Canada Impact+ program, a wonderful recognition of Dr. Kuroda’s potential and an exciting opportunity to further strengthen international research collaboration @ualberta.bsky.social www.ualberta.ca/en/news/news...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Excited to share our new review article Building CRISPR-Based Gene-Editing Platforms for Personalized Medicine: The Next Step in Interventional Genetics We discuss how gene-editing technologies may help advance personalized therapeutic strategies www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17...
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Excited to share our new review in Biomolecules: “RNA Therapeutics Targeting Skeletal Muscle: Emerging Antisense and Gene-Modifying Strategies.” This article highlights recent progress in antisense oligonucleotides and gene-modifying approaches Read the article here: www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16...
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Excited to share our new paper on LNP delivery of antisense gapmers for FSHD. Repeated systemic LNP-gapmer treatment reduced DUX4, improved muscle function, and ameliorated pathology in an FSHD mouse model. Congrats to Saeed and all collaborators! @ualberta.bsky.social www.cell.com/molecular-th...
cell.com
Lipid nanoparticle delivery of antisense gapmers attenuates pathology in a mouse model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Anwar and colleagues report that lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery significantly enhances the efficacy and safety of antisense gapmers targeting DUX4 in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. These p...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Proud to share that Alishba and Krish from the Yokota Lab have been awarded 2026 Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentships. Their projects will advance our lab’s work in personalized RNA-targeted therapies for rare diseases. Congratulations! www.ualberta.ca/en/current-s...
ualberta.ca
URI Funding Program Competition Results
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Excited to share our new bioRxiv preprint on eSkip2, an AI-driven framework for exon-skipping ASO design. eSkip2 uses transfer learning from the genome foundation model HyenaDNA plus ASO and SNV splicing data to prioritize exon–intron target regions. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Congratulations to Umme Sabrina Haque, PhD candidate in the Yokota Lab, for winning the People’s Choice Award at the Western Canadian 3MT® Finals in Regina! We are very proud of Sabrina and her outstanding presentation, “A Cure with a Passport.” @ualberta.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3Q...
youtube.com
Darke Hall - 3MT
YouTube video by Darke Hall Society
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... New preprint online: Building Gene Editing Platforms for Personalized Medicine: The Next Step in Interventional Genetics With Sebastian, we review CRISPR, base editing, prime editing, and scalable paths toward personalized therapies for rare genetic diseases.
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... New preprint now online: RNA Therapeutics Targeting Skeletal Muscle: Emerging Antisense and Gene-Modifying Strategies We review emerging antisense and gene-modifying approaches for skeletal muscle and neuromuscular diseases.
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Congratulations to Sabrina from the Yokota Lab on receiving an Oral Presentation Award at NMHI Research Day 2026. Sabrina continues to do outstanding work, and I am very pleased to see her research recognized. Well deserved. @ualberta.bsky.social www.ualberta.ca/en/neuroscie...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Our new paper now online! Single-base 2'OMe-modified LNA and MOE gapmers selectively silence ACVR1R206H in #FOP, improving muscle and tendon bioavailability and safety Grateful to all collaborators, trainees and supporters @ualberta.bsky.social @wchriuofa.bsky.social www.cell.com/molecular-th...
cell.com
Single-base 2'OMe-modified LNA and MOE gapmers selectively silence ACVR1R206H in FOP, improving muscle and tendon bioavailability and safety
Anwar and colleagues report a chemically optimized antisense gapmer strategy that selectively silences the pathogenic ACVR1R206H allele in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, sparing the wild-type ...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
We are pleased to share a new preprint from the Yokota Lab: The Multi-System Roles of Dp71 Dystrophin Isoforms in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy This review discusses the importance of Dp71 dystrophin isoforms in the multi-system biology of DMD.  www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
I am delighted to share that Sabrina Haque from our lab has been named the 2026 3 Minute Thesis Champion at the University of Alberta for her talk, “A Cure with a Passport.” We are very proud of her. Congratulations, Sabrina! @ualberta.bsky.social www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Thrilled that Rida has secured a @wchriuofa.bsky.social Summer Studentship! She’ll be working with us on developing safer, whole-body ASO treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Thanks to @stollerykids.bsky.social for the support! docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
WCHRI 2026 Summer Studentship results_20mar2026
Results of the 2026 Summer Studentship Competition WCHRI Summer Studentship program aims to encourage a new generation of talented, engaged young researchers to pursue careers in women’s and/or chil...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Congrats to Hidenori and Faiyza on the publication of our review article in Genes Application of Omics Analysis in the Clinical Practice and Research of Transthyretin Amyloidosis This paper highlights how omics approaches are advancing both research and clinical practice www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17...
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Our review article is now published in Genes: From Genomic Diagnosis to Personalized RNA Medicine: Advances in Next-Generation Sequencing and N-of-1 Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapies for Rare Genetic Diseases www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17... Congratulations to all co-authors.
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
日本希少疾患コンソーシアム(RDCJ)2025年度年会にて、「北米におけるN-of-1創薬の現状:患者個別ASO開発の実例と、規制・製造・実装に向けた課題」というタイトルで講演します! 北米での患者個別ASO(N-of-1)開発の実例を共有し、日本での制度設計・実装の議論に少しでも貢献できればと思います。 www.shonan-ipark.com/news/2551/
shonan-ipark.com
【Press Release】日本希少疾患コンソーシアム2025年度年会 湘南アイパークにて開催~ 「N-of‑1+」アプローチで切り拓く希少疾患の個別化医療 ~ | ニュース | 湘南ヘルスイノベーションパーク (湘南アイパーク)
Press ReleasePDF版はこちら2026年1月29日報道関係者各位アイパークインスティチュート株式会社日本希少疾患コンソーシアム2025年度年会 湘南アイパークにて開催~ 「N-of‑1+」...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
New preprint out! 📄 We examine the role of omics analysis in clinical practice and research for Transthyretin Amyloidosis. Check out the full work here: www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... #RareDisease #ATTR #Genomics #Bioinformatics @ualberta.bsky.social
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Just published! 🎉 Our new review “Artificial Intelligence-Driven Design of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Precision Medicine in Neuromuscular Disorders” is now out. We discuss how computational pipelines can accelerate ASO design and support N-of-1 therapies. 🔗 Article: www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Honoured that our FSHD antisense gapmer technology was recognized with a 2025 Innovation Award from @ualberta.bsky.social Technology Transfer Services, following its license to Facio BioTherapies and Children’s National Research Institute. Grateful to our team and partners. #FSHD #RareDisease
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Excited to share our new preprint on NGS and N-of-1 antisense oligonucleotide therapies for rare genetic diseases. We discuss how genomic diagnosis can directly inform personalized RNA medicines and N-of-1 ASO design. www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Thrilled to share that Harry, MD/PhD student in our lab, has won 3rd Place at the Falling Walls Lab 2025 in Berlin for his project “Breaking the Wall of Rare Disease Therapies.” A remarkable achievement representing Canada and the @ualberta.bsky.social on a global stage! falling-walls.com/lab
falling-walls.com
Falling Walls Lab
Throughout the year, 100 Falling Walls Labs take place all over the world. The winners pitch their breakthrough ideas at the Science Summit.
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Our Friends of Garrett Cumming Research Chair report 2025 is now live! Learn more about our mission and ongoing research at UAlberta: 🔗 sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/... Grateful to Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the Cumming family for their partnership.
sites.google.com
Yokota Lab - Research Chair
Pioneering the Future of Muscular Dystrophy Research at the University of Alberta Garrett Cumming was only three years old when he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the most common...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Congratulations to Harry from our lab for receiving the Oral Presentation Award at the 2025 WCHRI Research Day! His talk, “Customized exon skipping therapy to treat a young boy with DMD” highlights the promise of precision antisense therapy for rare diseases. @wchriuofa.bsky.social
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Honoured to be named a University of Alberta Distinguished Professor. Grateful to my students, collaborators, and colleagues worldwide for their dedication to advancing genetic medicine for rare diseases. Proud to be part of this inspiring community. www.ualberta.ca/en/the-quad/...
ualberta.ca
Celebrating the Recipients of the 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Exciting news! Our latest Methods in Molecular Biology chapter is out: “DG9-Conjugated Morpholino Rescues Phenotype in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice.” Congratulations to Sabrina and Melissa for leading this important work. link.springer.com/protocol/10....
link.springer.com
DG9-Conjugated Morpholino Rescues Phenotype in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by decreased expression of the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based therapies have been developed recently as a means of increasing the...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Thrilled to share our new Methods in Molecular Biology chapter. link.springer.com/protocol/10.... We describe in vivo methods for systemic DG9-PMO delivery, exon 51 skipping, and efficacy assessment in hDMDdel52;mdx mice. #DMD #RNAtherapeutics #ASO #DG9 #ExonSkipping @SpringerNature
link.springer.com
DG9-Conjugated Morpholino-Based Exon 51-Skipping Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene that leads to the loss of the dystrophin protein. Exon-skipping therapy with phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) has been shown to restore the disrupted...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
📢 New publication from our lab! “Local Non-Coding Regulatory Elements in Muscular Dystrophies” now out in IJMS. Exploring how lncRNAs, miRNAs, and epigenetic regulators contribute to muscular dystrophies. 👉 www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26... Congrats to Harry Wilton-Clark and Sebastian Rodriguez!
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
🎉 Exciting news! Our preprint “Local Non-Coding Regulatory Elements in the Muscular Dystrophies” (with Harry Wilton-Clark & Sebastian Hernandez Rodriguez) has already reached 100 downloads on @preprints.bsky.social Grateful for the growing interest. www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Thrilled to share our new review article “Upgrading nucleic acid and antisense therapeutics: challenges, solutions, and future directions” published in Bioanalysis (Taylor & Francis). 🚀 50 free e-prints available here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Upgrading nucleic acid and antisense therapeutics: challenges, solutions, and future directions
Only a small fraction of disease-modifying proteins present druggable pockets for conventional small-molecule or biologic therapies, underscoring the urgent need for innovative strategies such as n...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Excited to share that our new preprint is now online! 🚀 "Artificial Intelligence-Driven Design of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Precision Medicine in Neuromuscular Disorders" Grateful to my co-authors for their contributions. 👉 www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Thrilled to share that our MD/PhD student Harry Wilton-Clark won First Place at Falling Walls Lab Edmonton 2025 🏆👏 His talk, Breaking the Wall of Rare Disease Therapies, will now represent Edmonton on the world stage in Berlin! 🌍 #FallingWallsLab #RareDisease www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-...
ualberta.ca
Falling Walls Lab Edmonton
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Excited to share our new preprint: Local Non-Coding Regulatory Elements in the Muscular Dystrophies 🚀 We review how #lncRNAs, #miRNAs, and epigenetic regulators shape disease mechanisms in #DMD, #FSHD, #LGMD & more. www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... #preprints via @Preprints_org
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
New hope for Duchenne muscular dystrophy💙 Our team identified DG9, a peptide that boosts delivery of exon-skipping therapy to the heart — a key unmet need in DMD. This approach restored cardiac & skeletal muscle function in mice. www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/... @wchriuofa.bsky.social
ualberta.ca
Researchers build on a breakthrough in treating muscular dystrophy
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
pleased to share that our article "Report on the Rare Disease Consortium Japan Inaugural Symposium" is now published in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. doi.org/10.1177/2214... This work highlights the dedication of RDCJ and partners to advancing research and collaboration in rare diseases.
doi.org
Report on the rare disease consortium Japan inaugural symposium - July 18, 2023, shonan health innovation park, Japan - Toshifumi Yokota, Naoto Inukai, Hiroyuki Shibasaki, Harumasa Nakamura, Shinnichi...
The Rare Disease Consortium Japan (RDCJ) is a newly formalized cross-sector initiative launched to address the urgent and growing needs of individuals living wi...
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
🎉 Congratulations to our graduate student Umme Sabrina Haque on receiving the prestigious WCHRI Graduate Studentship! Her work in medical genetics is helping advance therapies for neuromuscular disorders that affect children. @wchriuofa.bsky.social www.wchri.org/our-impact/s...
wchri.org
Psychology graduate student explores link between social media and youth mental health through WCHRI support – WCHRI
From understanding self-perceptions to advancing disease treatments, WCHRI's graduate students are shaping the future of women's and children's health research.
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Excited to share our latest preprint: "Cardiac Cell and Animal Models for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the Era of Gene Therapy and Precision Medicine" Now online at @PreprintsOrg! 🧬 www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... #DMD #GeneTherapy #PrecisionMedicine #Cardiology #Preprint #MuscularDystrophy
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
🎉 New Release! The 2nd Edition of Exon Skipping and Inclusion Therapies is now published with Springer Nature! This edition highlights new breakthroughs in RNA-targeted therapies. Grab your copy link.springer.com/book/10.1007... #ExonSkipping #RNAtherapeutics #GeneTherapy #DMD #SMA #SpringerNature
link.springer.com
Exon Skipping and Inclusion Therapies
This book presents a collection of protocols reflecting the latest advancements in exon skipping and inclusion strategies.
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
🚨 New publication alert! Our latest review on Brogidirsen & exon 44 skipping therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is out in Genes. We discuss advances, challenges, and future directions for RNA-based therapies. 🔗 Read the full open-access article: www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
mdpi.com
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... Excited to share our latest preprint: 🧬 “Brogidirsen and Exon 44 Skipping for DMD: Advances and Challenges in RNA-Based Therapy” 📄 www.preprints.org/manuscript/2... Proud of Annie Tang’s excellent work leading this review. #DMD #RNAtherapy #exonskipping #ASO
preprints.org
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Toshi Yokota @tyokota.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
🎉 Proud to see our postdoc Dr. Hidenori Moriyama featured by @wchriuofa.bsky.social ! His work on improving ASO delivery for muscular dystrophy is bringing new hope to families. Thank you @stollerykids.bsky.social for supporting this research. #RareDisease #WCHRI www.wchri.org/our-impact/p...
wchri.org
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