Profile

B.S. Henderson State University 2010
M.S. Temple University 2013
Ph.D. Temple University 2016

• 2025 IU SPH Outstanding Senior Researcher Award
• 2021: Indiana University Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
• 2020: IU SPH Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award
• 2018: 1st Place Winner, Young Investigator Competition, Military Health System Research Symposium
• 2013-2016: Outstanding Graduate Research Award, Temple University
• 2011: Professional Internship, MLB Atlanta Braves
• 2010: Professional Internship, NFL Detroit Lions
• 2009: Professional Internship, MLS Sporting Kansas City

Lab Website

For additional information, please visit our lab website.

Extramural Grants

• 2025-2030 NIH-NICHD R01HD119019 (MPI: Kawata & Herbenick, 5 year $3,196,873): "Acute and cumulative effects of risky sexual behaviors"
• 2024-2029 NIH-NINDS R01NS137276 (MPI: Kawata, Mickleborough, & Newman: 5 year $2,989,995 ): "A mechanistic clinical trial of omega-3 fatty acids to prevent subconcussive neural injury"
• 2024-2028 DoD-USAMRAA (PI: Bazarian, Co-Leads: Leddy, Kawata, Mannix: 4 year $6,294,939): "Monitoring and mitigation of neurological injuries to optimize resilience after repetitive head impacts (MONITOR RHI)"
• 2020-2025 NIH-NINDS R01NS113950-01A1 (PI: Kawata, 5 year $2,856,478 ): "Subconcussive neurodegenerative progression in adolescent athletes"
• 2020-2022 NIH-NINDS R21NS116548-01A1 (MPI: Kawata & Newman, 2 year $435,875): "Neuroimaging and blood biomarkers for subconcussive neural stress on ADHD"
• 2021-2023 Indiana State Department of Health (MPI: Kawata & Shin 2 year $200,000): "The role of gut microbiome in development of persistent post-concussive symptoms and subconcussive neurodegeneration in adolescents"
• 2017-2018 Indiana State Department of Health (PI: Kawata, 2 year $152,723 ): "Biochemical and behavioral markers for acute subconcussive head impacts"

Scholarly Interest

Kei Kawata, Ph.D., is 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.

Kawata K, Liu CY, Merkel S, Ramirez S, Tierney R, & Langford D (2016). Blood Biomarkers for Brain Injury: What are we measuring? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 68: 460-473.

Kawata K, Rubin HL, Lee JH, Sim T, Takahagi M, Szwanki V, Bellamy A, Assari S, Darvish K, Henderer J, Tierney R, & Langford D (2016). Effect of football subconcussive head impact kinematics on ocular near point of convergence. JAMA Ophthalmology 134(7):763-769.

Zonner SW, Ejima K, Fulgar C, Charleston C, Huibregtse ME, Bevilacqua ZW, & Kawata K (2018). Oculomotor response to cumulative subconcussive head impacts in US high school football players: a pilot longitudinal study. JAMA Ophthalmology 137(3) 265-270.

Nowak MK, Bevilacqua ZW, Ejima K, Huibregtse ME, Chen Z, Mickleborough TD, Newman SD, & Kawata K (2020). Neuro-ophthalmologic response to repetitive subconcussive head impacts: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Ophthalmology 138(4):350-357.

Cheever K, McDevitt J, Phillips J, & Kawata K (2021). The role of cervical symptoms in post-concussion management: A systematic review. Sports Medicine 51(9):1875-1891

Huibregtse ME, Bazarian JJ, Shultz SR, & Kawata K (2021). Biological significance and clinical utility of emerging blood biomarkers for brain injury. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 130: 433–447

Zuidema TR, Huibregtse ME, & Kawata K (2022). Blood biomarkers may have found a new frontier in spaceflight. JAMA Neurology 79(6):632

Kercher KA, Steinfeldt JA, Macy JT, Seo DC, & Kawata K (2022). Drill intensity and head impact exposure in adolescent football. Pediatrics 150(5):e2022057725

Kercher KA, Steinfeldt JA, Rettke DR, Zuidema TR, Walker M, Kercher VM, Silveyra P, Seo DC,Macy JT, Hulvershorn LA, & Kawata K (2023). Association between head impact exposure, psychological need satisfaction, and indicators of mental health among U.S. high school tackle football players. Journal of Adolescent Health 72(4):502-509.

Kalbfell RM, Rettke DJ, Mackie K, Ejima K, Harezlak J, Alexander IL, Wager-Miller J, Johnson BD, Newman SD, & Kawata K (2023). The modulatory role of cannabis use in subconcussive neural injury. iScience 26(6):106948.

Zuidema TR, Bazarian JJ, Kercher KA, Rettke DJ, Mannix R, Kraft R, Newman SD, Ejima K, Macy JT, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K (2023). Longitudinal association of clinical and biochemical biomarkers with head impact exposure in adolescent football. JAMA Network Open 6(6):e2316601

Zuidema TR, Hou J, Kercher KA, Recht GO, Sweeney SH, Chenchaiah N, Cheng H, Steinfeldt JA, & Kawata K (2024). Cerebral cortical surface structure and neural activation pattern among adolescent football players. JAMA Network Open 7(2):e2354235

Bellini ZS & Kawata K (2025). Behind the eyes—compensation and complexity in head impacts. JAMA Ophthalmology doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.3244

Full List of Publications