Ryo Hotta

Ryo Hotta is an accomplished Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, affiliated with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He holds both an M.D. from the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo (1999) and a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne (2011) where he focused on enteric nervous system development under the mentorship of Professor Heather Young.14

Academic and Research Background

• Education:

  • M.D., Jikei University School of Medicine, 1999
  • Ph.D., University of Melbourne, 2011

• Professional Experience:

  • Completed residency in general and pediatric surgery.
  • Worked as a clinical fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne before joining MGH in 2012.

Research Interests

Dr. Hotta is a clinician scientist whose research primarily revolves around cell-based therapies for enteric neuropathies, particularly focusing on conditions like Hirschsprung disease. His work involves exploring the potential use of neural stem cells for treating gastrointestinal diseases where neuronal function is compromised.127 He has led several NIH-funded projects and has published extensively in this field.15

Current Role

In his current position at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Hotta continues to contribute to both clinical practice and research, emphasizing innovative approaches to pediatric surgery and regenerative medicine.36