Research field introduction

The Laboratory of Oral Pathology is dedicated to advancing oral health through the integration of diagnostic pathology, education, and research. Guided by our motto, “From diagnosis to research, and from research to diagnosis,” we strive to translate clinical observations into scientific discoveries and apply research findings to improve patient care.

As a laboratory within the field of oral pathology and life science research, we are actively engaged in pathological diagnosis, education, and basic and translational research.

Pathological Diagnosis: We provide comprehensive pathological diagnostic services for the Dental Departments of Kyushu University Hospital, examining approximately 1,200–1,500 pathological specimens and performing 50–80 intraoperative rapid pathological diagnoses annually. We also contribute to oral cytopathological diagnosis and participate in clinicopathological conferences (CPCs) at Kyushu University Hospital and affiliated regional hospitals.

Education: Our educational mission is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the causes, mechanisms, and manifestations of disease. Through lectures and histopathology practical training, undergraduate students learn to recognize structural and functional changes associated with disease and to interpret microscopic findings using light microscopy. This training forms an essential foundation for clinical diagnosis and patient care.

Research: Our primary research focus is the investigation of molecular and cellular mechanisms shared by tissue development and tumorigenesis. Many of our research questions originate from observations made during routine pathological diagnosis, enabling us to address clinically relevant problems. Using a variety of experimental approaches, including organ culture systems that closely mimic in vivo conditions, we seek to elucidate disease mechanisms and contribute to the development of improved diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies in dentistry and medicine.