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

Nishimura joined UCLA in 1997 and established the Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, supported by NIH/NCRR and philanthropic contributions from the Weintraub Family and film and entertainment industry. 

Nishimura has served as a reviewing consultant for NIH, NSF, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) and others.  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), Distinguished Alumni Award (Harvard, 2018) and the Goldhaber Award (Harvard, 2021).  He is an elected Fellow of Academy of Prosthodontics as well as American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS).  His current research addresses rare diseases of jawbone, skin, oral mucosa and facial nerves, by bio/nanotechnology-based drug discovery, supported by NIH and Industry.

He lists over 140 peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals such as Nat Commu, eLIFE, Biomaterials, J Biol Chem and PNAS. He also published 20 book chapters and over 230 conference abstracts. Nishimura has been identified as Top 2% Scientist in the World Scientist Ranking by Stanford University in 2021 and 2024.

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