Ryo Hotta

Dr. Hotta is a clinician scientist whose research interest is to establish novel cell-based therapy for enteric neuropathies, including Hirschsprung disease.

He received his MD degree from Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo in 1999. After completing residency training in general and pediatric surgery, Dr. Hotta moved to Australia where he began his doctoral research as a PhD student in the University of Melbourne under the mentorship of Prof. Heather Young, an internationally recognized authority in enteric nervous system development.

After completing his PhD work in 2011, Dr. Hotta returned to the ward as a clinical fellow in Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. In 2012, He joined MGH to expand his research career. His research has focused on the potential use of neural stem cells in therapies for gastrointestinal diseases in which neurons are missing or nerve function is deficient.

Education

2007-2011 PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology (Prof Young's Lab.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

1993-1999 MD, Jikei University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Positions and Employment

2017- Assistant Professor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2015-2017 Instructor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2012-2015 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Pediatric Surgical Laboratories (A/Prof Goldstein’s Lab.), Mass General Hospital

2011-2012 Clinical Fellow, Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery & Urology, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

2005-2007 Fellow, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo

2001-2005 Resident, Department of General and Pediatric Surgery, St Luke’s International Hospital

1999-2001 Intern, St Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Other Experience and Professional Memberships

2015- Resident/Fellow/Student Member, The American Pediatric Surgical Association

2014- Affiliate Member, The American College of Surgeons

2013- Associate Member, International Society of Stem Cell Research

2013- American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society

2011- Member, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

2009- Board Certified Member, Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons

2007- Board Certified Member, Japan Surgical Society

Honors

2016 American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society Research Grant

2015 MGHfC Research Day Travel Award 2015

2013 REACHirschsprung Foundation Research Grant

2013 Tosteson and Fund for Medical Discovery (FMD) Postdoctoral Fellowship

2012 The Uehara Memorial Foundation Research Fellowship 2013

2009 Network of Genes and the Environment in Development Conference Participation Award 2009

2009 The Viola Edith Reid Bequest Scholarship 2009, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

2008 The Viola Edith Reid Bequest Scholarship 2008, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

2008 Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship

2007 Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia