Title
Immune alterations in first-episode psychosis and the effects of natalizumab: A neuroimaging study with concurrent CSF measures
Abstract
It is hypothesised that microglia, the primary immune cells in the brain, play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. To address this, we investigated the effects of 3-month treatment with the monoclonal antibody natalizumab on a PET biomarker of microglia, CSF cytokines, and symptom measures in people with first-episode psychosis. I will be presenting unpublished findings from this study and future directions.
Biography
Dr Yuya Mizuno is a psychiatrist and Clinical Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. Before moving to the UK, he received his MD and PhD qualifications at Keio University School of Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) in 2007 and 2017, respectively. He is passionate about improving the care of people with schizophrenia, with research areas of interest including clinical psychopharmacology, resilience, neuroimaging (PET/MRI), and neuroimmunology. His postdoctoral research has focuses on the role of microglial dysfunction in people with schizophrenia and whether this can be targeted using natalizumab. He has authored/co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, has received multiple fellowship awards including from Canon Foundation in Europe and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and has received multiple competitive conference awards including the CINP Rafaelsen Young Investigator Award.
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/93711378882?pwd=ONUDhocbW7ucS5dRak0RGdZBC27ynz.1
Meeting ID: 937 1137 8882
Passcode: 845614
Posted on 19/11/2025
