Ichiro Nishimura, DDS, DMSc, DMD, FAP

Position

Professor of Dentistry and Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Founding Director [1997-2002; 2008-2012]: Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology

Co-Director: NeuroEngineering Graduate Program

Affiliations: California NanoSystems Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC BRAID Drug/Device Discovery & Development

Contact

UCLA School of Dentistry, Box 951668, CHS B3-087, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668

e-mail: inishimura@dentistry.ucla.edu

Phone : 310-794-7612 / Fax: 310-825-6345

Nishimura received his clinical training from Tokyo Dental College (DDS, 1981) and Harvard School of Dental Medicine (DMD, 1993).  He received the Doctor of Medical Sciences degree (DMSc) and the Prosthodontics Specialty Certificate from Harvard in 1986.  After postdoctoral research in cellular and molecular biology under Professor Bjorn Olsen at Harvard Medical School, Nishimura started tissue regeneration and biotechnology research in 1989.  He served as Director of the Harvard-MIT Biomaterials Graduate Program (1993-95) and Director of the Predoctoral Research Program of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (1995-97). 

Nishimura joined UCLA in 1997 and established the Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, supported by the National Center for Research Resources/NIH and philanthropic contributions from the Weintraub Family and film/entertainment industry.  His current administrative efforts include co-director of NeuroEngineering and the development of early translational research programs through UC BRAID Drug Discovery Alliance.

Nishimura has served as a reviewing consultant for NIH, NSF, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) and Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft (Austria).  He received scientific/academic awards including Distinguished Faculty Award (Harvard, 1993), Distinguished Service Award (American Association for Dental Research, 1999), Appreciation of Services (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2000 & 2005), Distinguished Scientist Award (International Association for Dental Research, 2004) and Distinguished Alumnus Award (Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 2018).  He is an elected Fellow of Academy of Prosthodontics (2000) and American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2017).  

His current research addresses rare diseases of bone, skin, oral mucosa and facial nerves, using small animal models and bio/nanotechnology for drug discovery and delivery.