2026

​

Plasma GFAP and UCH-L1 as diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric TBI in a low-resource setting.

Datta D, Muhindo A, Elamu D, Kembabazi E, Ssuuna C, Lwanga C, Mboizi V, Kyariisima G, Goings M, Pradhan-Bhatt S, Namazzi R, Bangirana P, & Kawata K

Neurotrauma Reports (In Press).

​

Acute blood biomarker responses to consensual sexual choking/strangulation in young adult women: a randomized crossover study

Sweeney SH, Recht GO, Lima-Cooper G, Datta D, Buddenbaum CV, Day H, Buehler B, Huibregtse ME, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Global Women’s Health 6:1717361

​

Clinical characteristics of acute sexual strangulation/choking: a randomized cross-over study.

Sweeney SH, Huibregtse ME, Day H, Buddenbaum CV, Recht GO, Buehler B, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Journal of Sexual Medicine 23(1):qdaf356

​

​

2025

​

WHITE MATTER MATTERS: New approach to the brain’s hidden half using circulating oligodendrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles.

Mitsuhashi M, Epps DV, Sun H, Xing L, Kawata K, Jimenez V, Williams VB, Sasannejad C, James M, Edwardson MA, & Murata T.

Cells 14(22):1771

​

Behind the eyes: compensation and complexity in head impacts.

Bellini ZS & Kawata K

JAMA Ophthalmology 143;(10):873-875.

​

Mental health trajectory throughout high school football career: a four-year prospective cohort study

Buddenbaum CV, Recht GO, Sweeney SH, Ellis G, Zuidema TR, Kercher KA, Bazarian JJ, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Psychiatry 16:1723687

​

Assessment and treatment interventions for traumatic brain injury

Lavender AP, Takechi R, Hellewell SC, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Neurology 16:1696541.

​

Exploring educational messages about sexual choking: Results of a feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy study among college students

Herbenick D, Fu TC, Simić Stanojević I, Rosenberg M, Eastman-Mueller H, Patterson C, Kawata K, Strack G, Gwinn C, & Wright PJ.  

Sexuality Research & Social Policy https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01189-2.

​

Effects of Lifetime Exposure to Sports-Related Head Impacts on Brain Injury and Inflammatory Blood Biomarkers Among Former Middle-Aged Athletes

Recht GO, Lima-Cooper G, Buddenbaum CV, Sweeney SH, Bellini ZS, Newman SD, Datta D, & Kawata K

Neurotrauma Reports 6 (1), 638-650

​

Alterations in mitochondrial energy metabolites following acute subconcussive head impacts among athletes with and without ADHD

Ellis G, Nowak MK, Kronenberger WG, Recht GO, Ogbeide O, Klemsz LM, Quinn PD, Barnes S, Newman SD, & Kawata K

iScience 28(6):112776

​

Assessing the capability of the corneal blink reflex to display neurological changes following subconcussive head impacts

Ogbeide O, Nowak MK, Klemsz L, Garner D, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Neurology 16, 1589577

 

Association of blood biomarkers for neural injury with recent, frequent exposure to partnered sexual strangulation in young adult women

Huibregtse ME, Alexander IL, Fu TC, Klemsz LM, Rosenberg M, Fortenberry JD, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Journal of Sexual Medicine 22 (5), 961-970

 

Investigating omega-3 fatty acids’ neuroprotective effects in repetitive subconcussive neural injury: Study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Beauregard L, Bazarian JJ, Johnson BD, Cheng H, Ellis G, Kronenberger W, Calder P, Chen Z, Silveyra P, Quinn PD, Newman SD, Mickleborough TD, & Kawata K

PLoS One 20 (4), e0321808

 

Unique cortical morphology in young adults who are diagnosed with and medicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Nowak MK, Kronenberger WG, Hou J, Ogbeide O, Klemsz LM, Cheng H, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Brain Imaging and Behavior 19 (2), 566-577

​

 

2024

​

Cerebral cortical surface structure and neural activation pattern among adolescent football players

Zuidema TR, Hou J, Kercher KA, Recht GO, Sweeney SH, Chenchaiah N, Cheng H, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K

JAMA Network Open 7 (2), e2354235-e2354235

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Return-to-Learn for the K-12 Student: a Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Dieball M, Grant S, Kingma J, Kawata K, & Bevilacqua Z

Journal of Athletic Training doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0501.24

 

Multiparameter cortical surface morphology in former amateur contact sport athletes

Recht GO, Hou J, Buddenbaum CV, Cheng H, Newman SD, Saykin AJ, & Kawata K

Cerebral Cortex 34 (7), bhae301

​

Associations between repetitive head impact exposure and midlife mental health wellbeing in former amateur athletes

Buddembaum CV, Recht GO, Rodriguez AK, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Psychiatry 15, 1383614

 

A Pilot Study Investigating the Use of serum GFAP to Monitor Changes in Brain White Matter Integrity after Repetitive Head Hits During a Single Collegiate football game.

Bazarian JJ, Abar B, Merchant-Borna K, Pham D, Rosen E, Mannix R, Kawata K, Chou Y, Stephen S, & Gill J

Journal of Neurotrauma 41 (13-14), 1597-1608

 

Association of Auditory Interference and Ocular-Motor Response with Subconcussive Head Impacts in Adolescent Football Players

Bellini ZS, Recht OR, Zuidema TR, Kercher KA, Sweeney SH, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K

Neurotrauma Reports 5 (1), 512-521

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Effectiveness of biomedical interventions on the chronic stage of traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Kawata K, Rettke DJ, Thompson C, Mannix R, Bazarian JJ, & Datta D

Frontiers in Neurology 15, 1321239

 

An approach for the analysis of axonal neuroinflammation by measuring dual biomarkers of oligodendrocytes and inflammatory cytokine in human plasma

Mitsuhashi M, Hirata A, Oguma Y, Ishida H, & Kawata K

Research Square, rs. 3. rs-3997676

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2023

 

Sexual choking/strangulation during sex: A review of the literature

Herbenick D, Patterson C, Wright PJ, Kawata K, & Fu TC

Current Sexual Health Reports 15 (4), 253-260

 

Neuro-ophthalmologic and blood biomarker responses in ADHD following subconcussive head impacts: a case–control trial

Nowak MK, Kronenberger WG, Rettke DJ, Ogbeide O, Klemsz LM, Quinn P, Mickleborough TD, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Psychiatry 14, 1230463

 

Structural brain morphology in young adult women who have been choked/strangled during sex: A whole‐brain surface morphometry study

Hou J, Huibregtse ME, Alexander IL, Klemsz LM, Fu TC, Fortenberry JD, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Brain and Behavior 13(8):e3160

 

Association of frequent sexual choking/strangulation with neurophysiological responses: A pilot resting-state fMRI study

Hou J, Huibregtse ME, Alexander IL, Klemsz LM, Fu TC, Fortenberry JD, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Journal of Neurotrauma 40(13-14):1339-1351

 

The modulatory role of cannabis use in subconcussive neural injury

Kalbfell RM, Rettke DJ, Mackie K, Ejima K, Harezlak J, Alexander IL, Wager-Miller J, Johnson BD, Newman SD, & Kawata K

iScience 26(6):106948

 

Association between serum Neurofilament light and glial fibrillary acidic protein levels and head impact burden in Women's collegiate water polo

Huibregtse ME, Sweeney SH, Stephens MR, Cheng H, Chen Z, Block HJ, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Journal of Neurotrauma 40 (11-12), 1130-1143

 

Longitudinal associations of clinical and biochemical head injury biomarkers with head impact exposure in adolescent football players

Zuidema TR, Bazarian JJ, Kercher KA, Rettke DJ, Mannix R, Kraft R, Newman SD, Ejima K, Macy JT, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K

JAMA Network Open 6 (5), e2316601-e2316601

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Association between head impact exposure, psychological needs, and indicators of mental health among US High school tackle football players

Kercher KA, Steinfeldt JA, Rettke DR, Zuidema TR, Walker M, Kercher VM, Silvayra P, Seo DC, Macy JT, Hulvershorn LA, & Kawata K

Journal of Adolescent Health 72 (4), 502-509

 

Effects of physical exertion on early changes in blood-based brain biomarkers: implications for the acute point of care diagnosis of concussion

Bazarian JJ, Abar B, Merchant-Borna K, Pham DL, Rozen E, Mannix R, Kawata K, Chou Y, Stephen S, & Gill J

Journal of Neurotrauma 40 (7-8), 693-705

 

Acute and chronic effects of sub-concussion on brain function

Lavender AP, Takechi R, Kawata K, Peek K, and DiVirgilio TG

Frontiers in Neurology 13, 1121589

 

Blood biomarkers of neuronal injury in paediatric cerebral malaria and severe malarial anaemia

Datta D, Gopinadhan A, Soto A, Bangirana P, Opoka RO, Conroy AL, Saykin A, Kawata K, & John CC

Brain Communications 5 (6), fcad323

 

2022

 

The association between contact sport exposure and cervical sensorimotor dysfunction: a scoping review of implications for future musculoskeletal injury risk

Cheever KM, King J, & Kawata K

Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 30 (1), 50

 

Drill intensity and head impact exposure in adolescent football

Kercher KA, Steinfeldt JA, Macy JT, Seo DC, & Kawata K

Pediatrics 150 (5)

 

Prevalence of acute neck pain following sports-related concussion in high school athletes

Cheever K, King J, Swan AA, & Kawata K

Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 32(6):e556-e561

 

Monitoring of post-brain injuries by measuring plasma levels of neuron-derived extracellular vesicles

Hotta N, Tadokoro T, Henry J, Koga D, Kawata K, Ishida H, Oguma Y, Hirata A, Mitsuhashi M, & Yoshitani K

Biomarker Insights 17, 11772719221128145

 

Short-term neurologic manifestations of repetitive head impacts among athletes: a scoping review

Stephen SJ, Hasman L, Goldenberg M, Kawata K, Mannix RM, & Bazarian JJ

Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 37 (5), 318-325

 

Frequency, method, intensity, and health sequelae of sexual choking among US undergraduate and graduate students

Herbenick D, Fu TC, Eastman-Mueller H, Thomas S, Svetina Valdivia D, Rosenberg M, Guerra-Reyes L, Wright P, Kawata K, & Feiner, J

Archives of Sexual Behavior 51 (6), 3121-3139

 

Defining an approach to monitoring brain health in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts: lessons learned from radiation safety

Mannix R, Kawata K, & Bazarian JJ

Journal of Neurotrauma 39 (13–14), 897-901

 

Titrating the translational relevance of a low-level repetitive head impact model

Boucher ML, Conley G, Nowlin J, Qiu J, Kawata K, Bazarian JJ, Meehan W, & Mannix RM

Frontiers in Neurology 13, 857654

 

Frequent and recent non-fatal strangulation/choking during sex and its association with fMRI activation during working memory tasks

Huibregtse ME, Alexander IL, Klemsz LM, Fu TC, Fortenberry JD, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 16, 881678

​

Blood biomarkers may have found a new frontier in spaceflight

Zuidema TR, Huibregtse ME, & Kawata K

JAMA Neurology 79 (6), 632-632

​

Return to learn: Preferences of college educators when receiving concussion medical notes

Bevilacqua ZW, Cothran D, Rettke DJ, Nelson-Laird T, Koceja DM, & Kawata K

Neurotrauma Reports 3 (1), 185-189

 

Non-fatal strangulation/choking during sex and its associations with mental health: Findings from an undergraduate probability survey

Herbenick D, Fu TC, Kawata K, Eastman-Mueller H, Guerra-Reyes L, Rosenberg M, & Svetina Valdivia D

Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy 48 (3), 238-250

 

A preliminary model of football-related neural stress that integrates metabolomics with transcriptomics and virtual reality

Vike NL, Bari S, Stetsiv K, Newman SD, Kawata K, Bazarian JJ, Martinovich Z, Papa L, Nauman EA, Talavage TM, Slobounov S, & Breiter HC

iScience 25 (1): 103483

 

ADHD may associate with reduced tolerance to acute subconcussive head impacts: a pilot case-control intervention study

Nowak MK, Ejima K, Quinn P, Bazarian JJ, Mickleborough TD, Harezlak J, Newman SD, & Kawata K

Journal of Attention Disorders 26 (1), 125-139

 

2021

 

Association of plasma tau with mortality and long-term neurocognitive impairment in survivors of pediatric cerebral malaria and severe malarial anemia

Datta D, Bangirana P, Opoka RO, Conroy AL, Co K, Zhao Y, Kawata K, Saykin A, & John CC

JAMA Network Open 4 (12), e2138515-e2138515

 

Chronic elevation of serum S100B but not neurofilament-light due to frequent choking/strangulation during sex in young adult women

Alexander IL, Huibregtse ME, Fu TC, Klemsz LM, Fortenberry JD, Herbenick D, & Kawata K

medRxiv, 2021.11. 01.21265760

 

The biological significance and clinical utility of emerging blood biomarkers for traumatic brain injury

Huibregtse ME, Bazarian JJ, Shultz SR, & Kawata K

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 130, 433-447

 

Fewer US adolescents playing football and public health: a review of measures to improve safety and an analysis of gaps in the literature

Macy JT, Kercher K, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K

Public Health Reports 136 (5), 562-574

 

Integrating multi-omics with neuroimaging and behavior: a preliminary model of dysfunction in football athletes

Bari S, Vike NL, Stetsiv K, Newman SD, Kawata K, Bazarian JJ, Papa L, Nauman EA, Talavage TM, Slobounov S, & Breiter HC

Neuroimage: Reports 1 (3), 100032

 

The role of cervical symptoms in post-concussion management: a systematic review

Cheever K, McDevitt J, Phillips J, & Kawata K

Sports Medicine 51 (9), 1875-1891

​

Educator perspectives on concussion management in the college classroom: a grounded theory introduction to collegiate return-to-learn

Bevilacqua ZW, Cothran D, Rettke DJ, Nelson-Laird T, Koceja DM, & Kawata K

BMJ Open 11 (4), e044487

​

Classification of comprehensive neuro-ophthalmologic measures of postacute concussion

Feller CN, Goldenberg M, Asselin PD, Merchant-Borna K, Abar B, Mannix R, Kawata K, & Bazarian JJ

JAMA Network Open 4 (3), e210599-e210599

 

Caution in clinical interpretation of near point of convergence: Influence of time of day on oculomotor function

Coon S, Bevilacqua ZW, Ferris MC, Chen Z, & Kawata K

Athletic Training & Sports Health Care 13 (1), 7-10

 

2020

 

Association between proteomic blood biomarkers and DTI/NODDI metrics in adolescent football players: a pilot study

Kawata K, Steinfeldt JA, Huibregtse ME, Nowak MK, Macy JT, Kercher K, Rettke DJ, Shin A, Chen Z, Ejima K, Newman SD, & Cheng H

Frontiers in Neurology 11, 581781

 

Does acute soccer heading cause an increase in plasma S100B? A randomized controlled trial

Huibregtse ME, Nowak MK, Kim JE, Kalbfell RM, Koppineni A, Ejima K, & Kawata K

Plos One 15 (10), e0239507

 

Clinical changes in cervical neuromuscular control following subconcussive impacts

Cheever K, Howard JT, & Kawata K

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 30 (3), 467-474

 

Acute time-course changes in CCL11, CCL2, and IL-10 levels after controlled subconcussive head impacts: a pilot randomized clinical trial

Huibregtse ME, Ejima K, Chen Z, Kalbfell RM, Koppineni A, & Kawata K

Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 35 (5), 308-316

 

Subconcussive head impact exposure between drill intensities in US high school football

Kercher K, Steinfeldt JA, Macy JT, Ejima K, & Kawata K

PLoS One 15 (8), e0237800

 

Is salivary S100B a biomarker of traumatic brain injury? A pilot study

Janigro D, Kawata K, Silverman E, Marchi N, & Diaz-Arrastia R

Frontiers in Neurology 11, 528

 

Neuro-ophthalmologic response to repetitive subconcussive head impacts: a randomized clinical trial

Nowak MK, Bevilacqua ZW, Ejima K, Huibregtse ME, Chen Z, Mickleborough TD, Newman SD, & Kawata K

JAMA Ophthalmology 138 (4), 350-357

 

Return to learn: academic effects of concussion in high school and college student-athletes

Holmes AA, Chen Z, Yahng L, Fletcher D, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Pediatrics 8, 57

​

Association between history of concussion and substance use is mediated by mood disorders

Newman SD, Grantz J, McKinney K, Gutierrez A, & Kawata K

Journal of Neurotrauma 37 (1), 146-151

 

Association between muscle damage and head impacts in high school American football

Huibregtse ME, Zonner SW, Ejima K, Bevilacqua ZW, Newman S, Macy J, & Kawata K

International Journal of Sports Medicine 41 (01), 36-43

​

 

2019

​

Preliminary evidence-based recommendations for return to learn: a novel pilot study tracking concussed college students

Bevilacqua ZW, Kerby M$, Fletcher D, Chen Z, Merritt R$, Huibregtse ME, & Kawata K

Concussion 4 (2), CNC63

​

In vivo protocol of controlled subconcussive head impacts for the validation of field study data

Bevilacqua ZW, Huibregtse ME$, & Kawata K

Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), e59381

 

Association of increased serum S100B levels with high school football subconcussive head impacts

Zonner SW, Ejima K, Bevilacqua ZW, Huibregtse ME, Charleston C, Fulgar C, & Kawata K

Frontiers in Neurology 10, 327

​

NFL blood levels are moderated by subconcussive impacts in a cohort of college football players

Rubin HL, Tierney R, Kawata K, Wesley L, Lee JH, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, & Langford D

Brain Injury 33 (4), 456-462

 

Oculomotor response to cumulative subconcussive head impacts in US high school football players: a pilot longitudinal study

Zonner SW, Ejima K, Fulgar C, Charleston C, Huibregtse ME, Bevilacqua ZW, & Kawata K

JAMA Ophthalmology 137 (3), 265-270

​

Association of acute increase in plasma neurofilament light with repetitive subconcussive head impacts: a pilot randomized control trial

Wirsching A, Chen Z, Bevilacqua ZW, Huibregtse ME, & Kawata K

Journal of Neurotrauma 36 (4), 548-553

 

​

2018

 

Procedural shortcomings with near point of convergence assessment may lead to inappropriate prognosis of concussion injury in athletes

Bevilacqua ZW & Kawata K

The American Journal of Sports Medicine 46 (12), NP64-NP66

 

A preliminary report on brain-derived extracellular vesicle as novel blood biomarkers for sport-related concussions

Kawata K, Mitsuhashi M, & Aldret R

Frontiers in Neurology 9, 239

 

Acute changes in plasma total tau levels are independent of subconcussive head impacts in college football players

Kawata K, Rubin LH, Wesley L, Lee JH, Sim T, Takahagi M, Bellamy A, Tierney R, & Langford D

Journal of Neurotrauma 35 (2), 260-266

 

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers

Kawata K, Tierney R & Langford D

Handbook of Clinical Neurology 158, 217-233

​

 

2017

 

Subconcussive impact-dependent increase in plasma S100β levels in collegiate football players

Kawata K, Rubin HL, Takahagi M, Lee JH$, Sim T$, Szwanki V, Bellamy A, Tierney R, & Langford D

Journal of Neurotrauma 34 (14), 2254-2260

​

Dysregulation of PINCH signaling in mesial temporal epilepsy

Liu CY, Russin J, Heck C, Kawata K, Adiga R, Yen W, Lambert J, Stear B, Law M, Marquez Y, Crino P, Millett D, & Langford D

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 36, 43-52

 

Vestibular dysfunction after subconcussive head impact

Hwang SJ, Ma L, Kawata K, Tierney R, & Jeka JJ

Journal of Neurotrauma 34 (1), 8-15

 

​

2016

 

Cervical injury assessments for concussion evaluation: a review

Cheever K, Kawata K, Tierney R, & Galgon A

Journal of Athletic Training 51 (12), 1037-1044

​

Blood biomarkers for brain injury: what are we measuring?

Kawata K, Liu CY, Merkel S, Ramirez S, Tierney R, & Langford D

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 68, 460-473

 

Association of football subconcussive head impacts with ocular near point of convergence

Kawata K, Rubin HL, Lee JH, Sim T, Takahagi M, Szwanki V, Bellamy A, Assari S, Darvish K, Henderer J, Tierney R, & Langford D

JAMA Ophthalmology 134 (7), 763-769

 

Effect of repetitive sub-concussive head impacts on ocular near point of convergence

Kawata K, Tierney R, Phillips J, & Jeka JJ

International Journal of Sports Medicine 37 (05), 405-410

​