Researcher Spotlight: Kosuke Kato

What is your professional background?
I am a translational pulmonary researcher. I earned my PhD in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kumamoto University in Japan in 2008. I completed my postdoctoral training at Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, NM, and at Temple University School of Medicine Lung Center in Philadelphia, PA. I joined the faculty at Emory in 2020.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I am an assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. My primary research mentor is Dr. Louise Hecker.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
My research focuses on the mechanical, immunological, and biological role of airway mucus respiratory diseases. I conduct basic mechanistic studies with an air-liquid interface airway epithelial culture in vitro, as well as pre-clinical studies using animal models. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in airway mucus hypersecretion is important to develop more effective therapies for lung infection and diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

What do you like most about Emory?
I like the diverse and inclusive culture at Emory.  

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
Stand-up comedies. Inspiring stories on TED Talks.  

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I play tennis for fun and compete in the USTA league.  

What is a fun fact about you?
I spend a lot of time visiting local hot springs (known as onsen) as the volcanic nature of my hometown (Kumamoto, Japan) provides a variety of hot springs. My favorites are sulphur onsen, hydrogen carbonate onsen, and iron onsen.