Research Interests
Kitazawa’s primary research emphasis centers on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the impact of neuroinflammation elicited endogenously by disruption of normal immune responses by aging or by exogenous environmental factors, such as chronic exposure to environmental chemicals and toxicants. By using multiple experimental platforms including transgenic mouse models of the disease, primary cultures and established cell culture models, and organotypic slices, my laboratory is investigating key cellular signaling cascades in microglia and astrocytes that are dysregulated in early phase of AD.
Current Projects/Studies
Masashi Kitazawa is also a member of Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND).
Education
Dr. Kitazawa holds a Ph.D. in toxicology from Iowa State University.
