Funding
Please see below for all current and past grants. We are appreciative of all of the support we have had.
Mentees' Grants
Neurobiological effects of acute head impacts among medicated and unmedicated athletes with ADHD and modulatory role of omega-3 fatty acids pretreatment
National Institutes of Health / NIDA T32DA024628 (PI: Ken Mackie; MPI Andrea Hohman, Patrick Quinn)
$65,000 direct
PI: Gage Ellis (Mentor: Kei Kawata)
08/1/2025 - 07/31/2027
The proposed study aims to determine how, and to what extent, ADHD psychostimulant medication and/or DHA+EPA omega-3 FA pretreatment is neuroprotective against repetitive acute soccer headings, as well as track ADHD medication type, dosage, and intake amongst athletes with ADHD.
Subconcussive effects in the female brain: a multimodal study of functional MRI and blood biomarkers
Indiana CTSI - NIH T32
$58,000 direct
PI: Megan Huibregtse (Mentor: Kei Kawata)
07/1/2020 – 06/30/2022
The purpose of the proposed study is to examine the female-specific effects of subconcussive head impacts on neural cellular and functional integrity in female water polo athletes, using brain-derived blood biomarkers and changes in neural activation via functional MRI.
Chronic cannabis use and acute subconcussive head impacts
The Hutton Honors College - Undergraduate Research Grant Program
$3,000 direct
PI: Rachel Kalbfell (Mentor: Kei Kawata)
05/18/2020 – 08/01/2020
The purpose of this research is to determine if chronic cannabis use has an effect on biological response to acute subconcussive head impacts.
High School Football Blood Biomarker Project
The Hutton Honors College - Undergraduate Research Grant Program
$3,000 direct
PI: Rida Bonday (Mentor: Kei Kawata)
06/1/2022 – 08/01/2022
The purpose of this research is to explore blood biomarkers that reflect the severity of subconcussive head impact exposure in high school football players.
Neurobiological significance of choking-related sexual behavior in college-aged women
The Hutton Honors College - Undergraduate Research Grant Program
$3,000 direct
PI: Isabella Alexander (Mentor: Kei Kawata)
06/1/2021 – 09/01/2021
The purpose of this research is to examine whether, and to what extent, frequent choking as part of sexual play influences neurological health in college-aged women.
Active Grants
A mechanistic clinical trial of omega-3 fatty acids to prevent subconcussive neural injury
National Institutes of Health / NINDS R01NS137276
$2,989,995 ($2,073,938 direct)
PI: Kei Kawata; MPI: Timothy Mickleborough & Sharlene Newman
6/1/2024 – 5/30/2029
The purpose of the proposed study is to determine whether, and to what extent, pretreatment with DHA and EPA combined is neuroprotective against repetitive subconcussive head impacts.
Acute and cumulative effects of risky sexual behaviors
National Institutes of Health / NICHD R01HD119019
$3,196,873 ($2,075,859 direct)
PI: Kei Kawata; MPI: Debby Herbenick
9/10/2025 – 5/30/2030
The purpose of the proposed research is to examine acute and cumulative neurological effects of sexual strangulation among young adults through multimodal neurological assessments and rigorous qualitative interviews.
Subconcussive neurodegenerative progression in adolescent athletes
National Institutes of Health / NINDS R01NS113950
$2,856,478 ($1,964,253 direct)
PI: Kei Kawata
12/1/2020 – 11/30/2026
The goal of the proposed project is to determine whether multiple years of subconcussive head impact exposure in adolescent athletes may induce progressive neurodegenerative changes, which lead to cognitive and sensory impairments.
Monitoring and Mitigation of Neurological Injuries to Optimize Resilience After Repetitive Head Impacts (MONITOR RHI)
Department of Defense - US Army: Focused Research Program HT94252411097
$6,294,939 ($5,000,000 direct)
PI: Jeff Bazarian; MPI: Rebekah Mannix, Kei Kawata, John Leddy
9/1/2024 – 8/31/2028
This project seeks to clarify the characteristics of repetitive head impacts most likely to produce acute brain injury, determine the usefulness of brain proteins measured in finger stick blood for detecting acute brain injury, and determine the ability of cumulative, serially measured brain protein levels to predict long-term declines in brain health.
Integrative predoctoral training in drug abuse research at Indiana University
National Institutes of Health / NIDA T32DA024628
$1,156,250 ($893,231 direct)
PI: Ken Mackie; MPI Andrea Hohman, Patrick Quinn
Kawata - mentor/preceptor
04/1/2025 – 3/30/2030
The proposed project aims to continue to nurture drug abuse research at IU through the lens of alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and mental health medications.
Completed Grants
Blood-Biomarkers and Risk Factors of Acute Brain Injury associated with Neurodisability in Ugandan Children [BRAIN-Child]
National Institutes of Health / NINDS R21NS129234
$333,649 ($275,000 direct)
PI: Dibya Datta; MPI: Paul Bangirana
Kawata - Co-Investigator
07/1/2022 – 6/30/2025
The proposed project aims to identify blood-based biomarkers that can be useful in gauging the severity of brain injury from traumatic brain injury in Ugandan children.
Neuroimaging and blood biomarkers for subconcussive neural stress on ADHD
National Institutes of Health / NICHD R21NS116548
$435,875 ($275,000 direct)
PI: Kei Kawata; MPI: Sharlene Newman
10/1/2020 – 09/30/2023
The overall goal of this study is to identify a panel of fluid and imaging biomarkers that can reflect subtle and subclinical, but detectable, levels of neuronal damage in ADHD individuals.
The role of gut microbiome in development of persistent post-concussive symptoms and subconcussive neurodegeneration in adolescents
Indiana State Department of Health SCTBIRF 00055049
$200,000 direct
PI: Kei Kawata; MPI: Andrea Shin
07/1/2021 – 6/30/2024
The proposed project tests the novel hypothesis that the microbiome-gut-brain axis influences the neural response to concussive and subconcussive insults and the course of brain recovery.
Longitudinal investigation of subconcussive brain injury in adolescent football players: a pilot study
IU Vice President for Research
$40,000 direct
PI: Kei Kawata
09/14/2018 – 12/30/2021
Aims of the study are to associate cumulative subconcussive head impacts as measured by sensor-installed mouthguard with blood biomarker levels and ocular-motor functions.
A novel neuroimaging biomarker for subconcussive axonal degeneration
Indiana CTSI Pilot Core Facility Funding
$9,600 direct
PI: Kei Kawata; MPI: Sharlene Newman
Kawata - mentor/preceptor
03/1/2019 – 02/28/2021
The goal of this pilot study is to examine the effects of subconcussive head impacts during a high school football season on axial diffusivity of neuronal axons as measured by a novel neuroimaging index (NODDI) that have shown to sensitively reflect axonal injury.
Biochemical and behavioral markers for acute subconcussive head impacts
Indiana State Department of Health
$152,723 direct
PI: Kei Kawata
07/1/2017 – 6/30/2020
We investigate acute profile of eye-movement metrics and blood biomarker after repetitive subconcussive head impacts. A laboratory study of soccer players and a clinical study of divers will enhance our knowledge in whether mild heat impacts increase neuron-derived blood biomarkers and decline ocular-motor function.
Protect the player, protect the game: how many "subconcussive" head impacts are safe?
IU Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council
$12,600 direct
PI: Kei Kawata
06/30/2019 – 07/1/2020
The overall goal of this project is to determine the long-term subconcussive effects and identify a threshold of head impact frequency and magnitude that can induce chronic, progressive decrease in neuronal integrity and function.
Effectiveness of two different forms of marine oil, derived from the New Zealand green lipped mussel and krill oil (Euphausia superba), on indirect markers of muscle damage and soreness during recovery from muscle damaging exercise in untrained men
Pharmalink International Limited
$89,944 direct
PI: Timothy Mickleborough
Kawata - Co-Investigator
01/7/2019 – 12/13/2019
The project is to evaluate the effects of PCSO-524®, and a blend of PCSO-24® (75%) and krill oil (25%) (ESPO-572®), on indirect markers of muscle damage, inflammation and soreness during recovery from muscle damaging exercise in untrained men.
Return to Learn: Concussion Effects on Academic Activities
Indiana University Office of Vice Provost for Research
$4,943 direct
PI: Kei Kawata
04/1/2017 – 03/31/2018
The project is to determine concussion effects on class-related cognitive activities among high school and college students, and to examine teachers’ concussion knowledge and accommodation implemented in their course works.
Detection of subclinical neural defect following repetitive subconcussive head impacts
Indiana University Office of Vice Provost for Research
$19,789 direct
PI: Kei Kawata
1/15/2017- 2/15/2019
To determine subconcussive head impact effects on ocular-motor performance and neural activity.