Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD!
Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD!
Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD!
By Katrina Fu
By Katrina Fu
Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD
Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD
Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD is a Co-investigator at PETAL Consortium and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also a Visiting Physician Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Part-time Lecturer at Kyoto University. He earned his bachelor’s degree and medical degree at Kyoto University, where he later completed his PhD after fellowship training at Kitano Hospital and Amagasaki General Medical Center. Previously, Makoto has also been a Junior Research Associate at RIKEN and a Research Physician at Kyoto University.
Makoto Iwasaki, MD, PhD is a Co-investigator at PETAL Consortium and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also a Visiting Physician Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Part-time Lecturer at Kyoto University. He earned his bachelor’s degree and medical degree at Kyoto University, where he later completed his PhD after fellowship training at Kitano Hospital and Amagasaki General Medical Center. Previously, Makoto has also been a Junior Research Associate at RIKEN and a Research Physician at Kyoto University.
In this Q&A, meet Makoto Iwasaki, PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator!
In this Q&A, meet Makoto Iwasaki, PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator!
In this Q&A, meet Makoto Iwasaki, PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator!
When did you first know you wanted to become a doctor?
When did you first know you wanted to become a doctor?
I decided to be a doctor in elementary school. My mother was an ear, nose, and throat specialist, so my decision was significantly affected by her. I have never seriously considered any other jobs since childhood as I believe medicine is not only about treating illness, but also about investigating what it means to be human and supporting one of the most essential aspects of life.
I decided to be a doctor in elementary school. My mother was an ear, nose, and throat specialist, so my decision was significantly affected by her. I have never seriously considered any other jobs since childhood as I believe medicine is not only about treating illness, but also about investigating what it means to be human and supporting one of the most essential aspects of life.
Why did you want to specialize in hematology?
Why did you want to specialize in hematology?
When I was 10 years old, my grandfather underwent surgery for lung cancer, and his condition worsened after surgery. Of course, I now understand that the surgery was necessary, but at the time, I was very shocked by his worsened condition. This experience shaped my interest in non-invasive treatments that do not require surgery.
Unlike other cancers, blood cancers can be cured without surgery–a key reason I was drawn to hematology. When I was a junior resident, I was fascinated by the dramatic improvement in blood cancer patients after treatment. Since blood cancer is one of the most aggressive subtypes of cancer, before treatment, patients are usually extremely ill. But many blood cancer patients experience a disappearance of cancer signs and symptoms after only one or two cycles of chemotherapy!
When I was 10 years old, my grandfather underwent surgery for lung cancer, and his condition worsened after surgery. Of course, I now understand that the surgery was necessary, but at the time, I was very shocked by his worsened condition. This experience shaped my interest in non-invasive treatments that do not require surgery.
Unlike other cancers, blood cancers can be cured without surgery–a key reason I was drawn to hematology. When I was a junior resident, I was fascinated by the dramatic improvement in blood cancer patients after treatment. Since blood cancer is one of the most aggressive subtypes of cancer, before treatment, patients are usually extremely ill. But many blood cancer patients experience a disappearance of cancer signs and symptoms after only one or two cycles of chemotherapy!
What inspired you to go into medical research?
What inspired you to go into medical research?
Since I was young, I’ve believed that all doctors should work as both clinicians and researchers. My mother was a physician-scientist at a university, and my father was a scientist in both academia and industry. He often shared his enthusiasm for research and spoke about the vibrant scientific community. Therefore, I naturally came to see research as an essential part of being a doctor.
During my clinical experience, I’ve seen many patients cured by chemotherapy or stem cell transplants, but around half of patients can’t be cured by existing treatments. I want to research more solutions for patients who still have no cure.
Since I was young, I’ve believed that all doctors should work as both clinicians and researchers. My mother was a physician-scientist at a university, and my father was a scientist in both academia and industry. He often shared his enthusiasm for research and spoke about the vibrant scientific community. Therefore, I naturally came to see research as an essential part of being a doctor.
During my clinical experience, I’ve seen many patients cured by chemotherapy or stem cell transplants, but around half of patients can’t be cured by existing treatments. I want to research more solutions for patients who still have no cure.
Why did you want to join PETAL Consortium? What is your research about?
Why did you want to join PETAL Consortium? What is your research about?
During my PhD, I studied human hematopoiesis–the process of how human blood cells develop–by transplanting human cells into mice, enabling the “humanized” mice to mimic human blood and immune systems. This allowed me to investigate how blood cells and blood cancers form in a living system, offering insights into how these processes occur in people.
I also explored how machine learning–a core academic discipline of artificial intelligence that builds algorithms capable of learning from data and improving performance without being explicitly programmed–can be applied to predict patient outcomes following bone marrow transplantation.
Since PETAL Consortium also uses humanized mice and machine learning to study and identify new therapies for T-cell lymphoma, a devastating blood cancer, I was excited to join.
During my PhD, I studied human hematopoiesis–the process of how human blood cells develop–by transplanting human cells into mice, enabling the “humanized” mice to mimic human blood and immune systems. This allowed me to investigate how blood cells and blood cancers form in a living system, offering insights into how these processes occur in people.
I also explored how machine learning–a core academic discipline of artificial intelligence that builds algorithms capable of learning from data and improving performance without being explicitly programmed–can be applied to predict patient outcomes following bone marrow transplantation.
Since PETAL Consortium also uses humanized mice and machine learning to study and identify new therapies for T-cell lymphoma, a devastating blood cancer, I was excited to join.
What does a day-in-your-life at PETAL Consortium look like?
What does a day-in-your-life at PETAL Consortium look like?
I mainly work in bioinformatics–a field that uses computer tools to analyze large and complex sets of biological data. I also manage multiomic data in cooperation with other research groups.
“Omics” refers to the comprehensive study of a specific layer of biological information. For example, genomics focuses on DNA or genetic code and transcriptomics focuses on which genes are turned on or off. Multiomic data combines these layers to provide a more complete picture of how the body works or how diseases develop.
At PETAL, we use whole-exome sequencing–a genetic testing method that looks specifically at the exome–the part of DNA that contains instructions for making proteins– together with transcriptomics to help predict patient outcomes. PETAL also explores additional multiomic approaches to better understand disease progression and treatment response.
I also study epigenomics–the changes in the way genes are regulated in cancer to understand how a patient’s disease has been shaped, how it will progress, and how it may respond to treatment. These mechanisms, closely linked to DNA structure and transcription, strongly influence how a patient’s disease behaves. By understanding these processes, I hope to find new treatment strategies for patients.
I mainly work in bioinformatics–a field that uses computer tools to analyze large and complex sets of biological data. I also manage multiomic data in cooperation with other research groups.
“Omics” refers to the comprehensive study of a specific layer of biological information. For example, genomics focuses on DNA or genetic code and transcriptomics focuses on which genes are turned on or off. Multiomic data combines these layers to provide a more complete picture of how the body works or how diseases develop.
At PETAL, we use whole-exome sequencing–a genetic testing method that looks specifically at the exome–the part of DNA that contains instructions for making proteins– together with transcriptomics to help predict patient outcomes. PETAL also explores additional multiomic approaches to better understand disease progression and treatment response.
I also study epigenomics–the changes in the way genes are regulated in cancer to understand how a patient’s disease has been shaped, how it will progress, and how it may respond to treatment. These mechanisms, closely linked to DNA structure and transcription, strongly influence how a patient’s disease behaves. By understanding these processes, I hope to find new treatment strategies for patients.
Any interests/hobbies?
Any interests/hobbies?
Team sports like basketball, soccer, or rugby football.
Team sports like basketball, soccer, or rugby football.
What’s your perfect meal?
What’s your perfect meal?
Japanese food like sushi, tofu, or natto (fermented soybeans).
Japanese food like sushi, tofu, or natto (fermented soybeans).
Favorite movie?
Favorite movie?
The Green Mile.
The Green Mile.
Dream vacation destination?
Dream vacation destination?
The Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon.
Since we’re PETAL Consortium, favorite flower?
Since we’re PETAL Consortium, favorite flower?
Cherry blossoms 🌸
Also, in Boston during the spring, the streets are full of Callery pear blossoms which remind me of the cherry blossoms back home in Japan.
Makoto dedicates his work to his mother, who passed away earlier this year. Her unwavering support and early encouragement inspired his path toward medicine. Makoto views science as part of a larger human legacy–carried forward from past generations, including his own parents–and strives to improve care for those who need it most.
Cherry blossoms 🌸
Also, in Boston during the spring, the streets are full of Callery pear blossoms which remind me of the cherry blossoms back home in Japan.
Makoto dedicates his work to his mother, who passed away earlier this year. Her unwavering support and early encouragement inspired his path toward medicine. Makoto views science as part of a larger human legacy–carried forward from past generations, including his own parents–and strives to improve care for those who need it most.
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved