Kawakami Lab

Live imaging of CNS autoimmunity

Landscape portrait of Naoto Kawakami.

© J. Greune / LMU

PD Dr. Naoto Kawakami

Live imaging of CNS autoimmunity
Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology

+49 89 2180 71666
naoto.kawakami@med.uni-muenchen.de

Research Topics

  • Autoimmunity
  • Intravital imaging
  • T cells

Our research focusses on autoreactive, CNS-specific T cells that induce inflammation in the brain. The use of intravital two-photon microscopy and functional fluorescent markers in EAE, an animal model for Multiple Sclerosis, allows us to visualize not only T-cell activation but also migration and interactions with other cell types in real-time. These obtained parameters promote our understanding of how the fate of autoreactive T cells is influenced by their environment and vice versa. Read more...

Scientific vita

since 2011
Group leader, Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital and Biomedical Center, LMU Munich
2003-2011
Group leader, Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
2001-2002
Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Neuroimmunology, Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology
2001
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Japan, Advisor: H. Yamamoto