Kenichi Shimada, PhD, received his PhD in microbiology and immunology at Kitasato University. Shimada joined the Arditi Laboratory and is now studying host defenses against pathogens, innate immunity, and immune regulation. Shimada made the seminal observation that oxidized mitochondrial DNA during apoptosis is released and binds to cytosolic NLRP3 to activate it for IL-1 beta production (immunity paper). Shimada is now investigating the mitochondria and NLRP3 inflammasome activation mechanisms, acute lung injury and the role of Rip2 and Th17 in Chlamydia pneumoniae infections.

• Undergraduate: Kitasato University, 2001
• Master's: Kitasato University, 2003
• Post Doctorate: Kitasato University, 2006