Kei Kawata, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at Indiana University and an internationally recognized leader in the study of repetitive subconcussive brain trauma. He pioneered research uncovering the biophysiological consequences of these often-overlooked head impacts, helping to shape current understanding of their role in long-term neurological outcomes. Dr. Kawata’s clinical expertise in brain trauma was honed through his work with four professional sports organizations: NFL Detroit Lions, MLB Atlanta Braves, MLS Sporting Kansas City, and ESPN Wide World of Sports. This hands-on experience in sports medicine continues to inform his translational neuroscience research. He completed both his M.S. focusing on molecular neuroscience and Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience at Temple University, where he gained extensive experience across a spectrum of brain injury models. His career thus far has been shaped by diverse brain injury-related research experiences, including studies of an in-vitro, mouse model, human laboratory studies, large scale cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies, and clinical trials. His research program is supported by federal agencies such as the NIH and Department of Defense, and employs a multimodal approach to studying neurological injuries and neurodegeneration. His lab integrates head impact kinematic sensors, blood-based biomarkers, neuro-ophthalmologic assessments, and advanced neuroimaging techniques to advance brain health research across the lifespan. 

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