Ken Muneoka

Dr. Muneoka’s research is focused on discovering ways to enhance regenerative capabilities of mammalian limbs. His early studies using the amphibian limb as a regeneration model provided the first direct evidence that the process of limb regeneration involved the reutilization of developmental processes. Dr. Muneoka pioneered the study of regenerative capabilities of embryonic mice by developing microsurgical procedures for manipulating mid-gestational stage embryos in utero. Dr. Muneoka’s cumulative work on regeneration in higher vertebrate models has illuminated a road map for tackling the intractable problem of how to induce regenerative responses in mammals. Using the mouse digit tip as a regeneration model, a number of key signaling pathways have been identified as critical for mammalian blastema formation and regeneration, while gain of function studies using non-regenerating digit or limb amputations provide clear examples of how activation of these signaling pathways can induce regenerative responses. Most recently, Dr. Muneoka’s lab has demonstrated that mammalian joints can be induced to regenerate and this has led to in vitro strategies for differentiating articular cartilage that can be used for surgically repair damaged joints.