Dr. Hirota is Professor, Associate Dean Research Infrastructure and a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Host-Microbe Interactions in Chronic Disease at the University of Calgary in the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. His team's research interests are broad, spanning from understanding the role microbial metabolites in the regulation of intestinal mucosal homeostasis, elucidating the mechanism(s) driving intestinal fibrosis and pathogenic tissue remodelling in Crohn's disease, to characterizing the interplay between various mucosal immune cells and IL-22 in the context of health and disease. Dr. Hirota is also the co-director of the Canadian National Organoid Network, a platform that supports intestinal organoid research through the provision of well-characterize human organoid lines and the dissemination of harmonized and validated protocols. He is also the co-founder of STEEDZ Enduro, a competitive/recreational enduro mountain bike racing team based in Canmore, Alberta.