Dr Tomoko Iwata
- Senior Lecturer (Undergraduate Medical School)
telephone:
01413549438
email:
Tomoko.Iwata@glasgow.ac.uk
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, Laboratory Medicine Building, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 4TF
Biography
Dr Tomoko Iwata is a senior lecturer in Tumour Biology and Digital Pathology and is an educator and researcher with over 20 years of experiences in UofG. After obtaining a PhD in Biochemistry from ETH-Zurich in 1996, Dr Iwata received training as a postdoctoral research fellow at the NIH, USA, and Research Scientist at EMBL-Heidelberg and Max-Planck Institute in Germany. Dr Iwata advocates the importance of high-quality learning opportunities that best reflect the interest of learners and stakeholders, which is essential in fostering learning of complex concepts in cancer and molecular pathology. Dr Iwata is a fellow of Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) since 2013 and awarded RET Senior Fellowship in February 2026. She has pioneered 3-year part time, blended online MSc/PgDip/PgCert Molecular Pathology (2016-2022) and has generated cross-disciplinary and technology-enhanced teaching and learning programmes, in the area of Molecular and Digital Pathology for life science and anatomy students.
Dr Iwata is an experienced supervisor of UK and internationally sponsored PGR students (10 PhD and 1 MSc by Research) and over 120 UG/PGT lab projects. Dr Iwata is also a Director of Postgraduate Research in SoMDN since 2022 (2019-2022 as Deputy PG Convener), overseeing 185 current PGR students and those awarded, of which a third is NHS-based clinicians undertaking MD, PhD and MSc by Research. Dr Iwata served as an EDI lead in 2020-2022, and currently is a member of Athena Swan Aspiration and Development working group, committed to enhance student experience and inclusive culture.
Dr Iwata is also well-known for her work in the in vivo model with FGFR3 gene mutations in genetic diseases, as well as more recent work in tumour biology and translation with an innovative use of multiplex immunofluorescence, RNAScope, and Digital Pathology, aiming improve immunotherapy response with rationally designed predictive biomarkers. Dr Iwata contributed to the Innovate UK funded “Integrated TeChnologies for Improved Polyp SurveillancE (INCISE)” project that aims to better predict polyp recurrence. Dr Iwata has published 29 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 2 book chapters and contributed to 10 grant funded projects, of which 5 as a principal investigator, 5 with industry engagement, 3 PhD studentships and 4 that support Education. She is a regular reviewer of UKRI grants and fellowships/PhD studentships from both UK and International funders. Dr Iwata’s long-standing experiences contribute to her leading role in Molecular Pathology education.
Research interests
- Enhancing learning of Digital Pathology and Image Analysis as complex concepts
- Pathologist’s motivation in adopting good clinical practice and design of clinical trials
- Nurturing good PGR supervisory practice by scenario-based training
Grants
Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.
- Use of cell-free plasma DNA as a biomarker of canine cancer
The Humanimal Trust
2017 - 2018
- Cortical Development Meeting (Crete) and ISDB/JSDB [International Society of Developmental Biologists/Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists] Meeting (Japan)
Scottish Stem Cell Network
2008 - 2008
- Control of cell cycle & apoptosis in cortical progenitors by Fgf receptor 3
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2004 - 2007
Supervision
Amal Rahil Elgaddafi Yousef - PhD student
Resul Balci - PhD student
Abdulaziz Sharahili - PhD student
Teaching
I am an experienced UG and PGT programme and course leads in cancer biology, molecular and digital pathology.
- Digital Pathology and Image Analysis, MSc Cancer Digital Technologies
- Introduction to Digital Pathology, Anatomical Imaging Techniques option
- Targeting Cell Signalling (BSc MedSci, Bench to Bedside Oncology specialist course)
I am also an experienced project supervisor for UG/PGT wet/dry-investigative project.
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2013: Fellow (The Higher Education Academy)
- 2026: RET Senior Fellow (UofG)
- 2025: EDI Individual Award (College of MVLS)
Grant committees & research advisory boards
- 2025 - present: The Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Education and Clinical Trial sub committees
- 2024 - present: Medical Research Scotland (MRS), PhD studentship review panel
Professional & learned societies
- 2021 - 2022: , Medical School Council EDI Alliance
- 2018 - present: , International Bladder Cancer Network (IBCN)
- 2016 - 2019: , National Cancer Research Institutte (NCRI), Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CM-Path)
- 2016 - 2019: , Molecular Pathology Node Training Network
