Faculty & Scientific Staff

Mariko Kita

Mariko Kita, MD

Affiliate Investigator
206.341.0420

Background Information

Dr. Kita received her BA degree in biology from Johns Hopkins University and her MD degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and her residency in neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Kita completed her fellowship in neuroimmunology at Mt. Zion Multiple Sclerosis Center, University of California School of Medicine. She joined Virginia Mason Medical Center and Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) in 2000. Dr. Kita is currently Chief of Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Director, Virginia Mason Multiple Sclerosis Center; and Director, Neurology Clinical Trials, BRI.

Area Of Research

Dr. Kita leads the BRI clinical trials in multiple sclerosis — testing drugs that selectively modulate the immune system and are more effective in reducing symptoms. BRI has extensive experience in local and national clinical trials including studies with the most recent and dramatically efficacious immunotherapies.