Dr. Iwata, the Robert W. Browne Professor with tenure in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, is deeply dedicated to his research on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying craniofacial congenital disabilities and diseases. His laboratory characterizes the cell signaling network and cellular metabolic processes that direct membrane trafficking disorders. They use multidisciplinary approaches such as mouse genetics, genomics, proteomics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Dr. Iwata earned his DDS and PhD degrees at Kyushu University School of Dentistry (Japan), where he studied cancer biology and proteases. He was then hired as an Assistant Professor at Juntendo University School of Medicine (Japan), where he studied autophagy using mouse genetics models. Dr. Iwata joined the laboratory of Dr. Yang Chai at the University of Southern California as a Research Associate to expand his interest in craniofacial development. He then appointed as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston prior to joining UM School of Dentistry in 2024. Dr. Iwata's commitment to contribute to his field of research is evident in his roles as a reviewer, editorial board member, and editor for scientific journals such as Scientific Reports and Frontiers. He also serves as a reviewer for grant applications for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and many others, which reassures the academic and scientific community about the quality of his work.