Masashi Kitazawa

Masashi Kitazawa is a Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health at the Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, with affiliations in the Population Health & Disease Prevention department. He is an active member of the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND). He holds a Ph.D. in Toxicology from Iowa State University.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing neuroinflammation triggered by aging and environmental toxins. Experimental approaches include transgenic mouse models, cell cultures, and molecular analyses of microglia/astrocyte signaling dysregulation in early disease stages.

Notable recognition includes the 2025 COHS Faculty Assembly Award. His laboratory investigates environmental neurotoxicity and therapeutic targets using interdisciplinary methods.