Originally trained as a sports medicine practitioner, Dr. Kei Kawata developed a deep appreciation for the molecular, functional, and biomechanical aspects of brain injury. His translational background uniquely positions his laboratory at the intersection of clinical and basic science, producing biologically grounded insights that inform public health protocols and injury mitigation guidelines.

Dr. Kawata was among the first investigators to establish a controlled soccer heading model to examine the effects of repetitive subconcussive brain injury. This model has since been instrumental in identifying modifying factors and evaluating candidate therapeutics. Simultaneously, he was an early adopter of mouthguard sensor technology to quantify head impact severity in American football players, integrating biomechanical data with neurological outcomes such as blood-based biomarkers and neuro-ophthalmologic measures. His innovative, multi-dimensional research approach, spanning mechanistic laboratory models and field-based studies, led to his direct appointment as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Indiana University School of Public Health in 2016, bypassing traditional postdoctoral training. Since then, he has led pioneering work on subconcussive neurodegeneration, launching numerous pilot studies and shaping the field through sustained productivity.

In 2020, at the age of 30, Dr. Kawata secured both an NIH-NINDS R01 (R01NS113950, $3M) and R21 (R21NS116548, $450K) as Principal Investigator. The R01 project examined the longitudinal effects of cumulative head impacts in adolescent football players and has yielded a series of foundational publications. The R21 project investigated the role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in modulating vulnerability to subconcussive injury, identifying unique ADHD-related neural responses in cortical morphometry, mitochondrial metabolites, and oculomotor function, raising critical questions about the impact of psychostimulant treatment on brain injury outcomes. Since 2016, Dr. Kawata has published approximately 10 peer-reviewed articles annually, with 70% reflecting work from his own lab (as senior or first author).

More recently, his lab has expanded into neuroprotective therapeutics. His current NIH-NINDS R01 (R01NS137276, $3M) is a mechanistic clinical trial testing whether omega-3 fatty acid (DHA+EPA) supplementation provides neuroprotection against subconcussive neural injury induced by controlled soccer heading. Findings from this trial will lay the groundwork for a future longitudinal efficacy trial evaluating DHA+EPA in real-world sports settings.

Additionally, as part of the MONITOR RHI Consortium funded by the Department of Defense (HT9425-24-1-1097, $6M), Dr. Kawata is leading a clinical trial investigating how the temporal spacing of repeated head impacts influences neurological recovery. This project integrates cutting-edge tools, including optical coherence tomography/angiography, portable EEG, cognitive assessments, and blood biomarkers, to address operational concerns in military settings, particularly regarding return-to-duty timelines after blast exposures.

In addition to his primary research on the neuroscience of brain trauma, Dr. Kawata leads several high-impact interdisciplinary collaborations.

Notably, he works closely with Dr. Debby Herbenick, an internationally recognized expert in sexual health and medicine, on the emerging topic of the neurological effects of sexual strangulation during consensual sex. Their collaborative research has garnered significant scientific and public attention. For example, their initial publication, which reported fMRI findings following sexual strangulation, has been viewed and downloaded over 77,000 times since its release in June 2022, placing it in the top 1% of all articles published in Frontiers. The study achieved an Altmetric score of 186, ranking in the top 5% of all research outputs in terms of media engagement. Subsequent publications in Journal of Neurotrauma and Brain & Behavior have shown similarly strong visibility. Public concern became evident following coverage in the New York Times, which generated more than 1,400 reader comments within 24 hours, many expressing alarm and curiosity about the health implications. With support by the NIH, Dr. Kawata and his team are aiming to conduct a longitudinal investigation to further advance understanding in this understudied area.

Dr. Kawata is actively involved in global health efforts to address pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) in low-resource settings. Since 2019, he has collaborated with Dr. Dibya Datta at the Indiana University School of Medicine to advance diagnostic and prognostic tools for pediatric TBI in Uganda, where road traffic injuries and limited trauma infrastructure contribute to a high TBI burden. As co-Investigator on an NIH R21 project (R21NS129234), Dr. Kawata co-led a study demonstrating the clinical utility of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a blood biomarker for pediatric TBI. Using point-of-care technology, GFAP showed 97% diagnostic accuracy and promise in predicting neurodisability at discharge and two-week follow-up. Drs. Datta and Kawata are now working to expand brain trauma research and care in Uganda, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing global TBI outcomes.

Alongside his scientific pursuits, Dr. Kawata is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of clinical and translational researchers, including students from underrepresented backgrounds. An impressive 70% of his publications include student or trainee co-authors, with 33 papers led by student first authors. Nearly all of his high-impact publications highlight student contributions (e.g., JAMA Neurology, JAMA N-O, Pediatrics, JAMA Ophthalmology, iScience), reflecting his hands-on approach to training through rigorous guidance, collaborative brainstorming, and iterative manuscript development. These accomplishments speak to the shared dedication between Dr. Kawata and his mentees, resulting not only in publications in top-tier journals but in a lasting legacy of growth, perseverance, and scientific excellence.