Our Research
Dr. Coley’s paper examining racial and ethnic inequity in suicide prediction models was recently awarded "Paper of the Year" at the Healthcare Systems Research Network 2021 Annual Conference.
Science to serve one goal: Better health
Scientists at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) have a rare advantage: We work within a system that provides both care and coverage. With a 360-degree view of people’s everyday health experience over time, we discover what works best to serve Kaiser Permanente's mission: Better health.
We collaborate closely with Kaiser Permanente Washington's medical staff and other providers—gaining from their perspectives on practical approaches to health care’s toughest problems. Together, we create a learning health care system—a place where research strengthens practice and practice strengthen research.
Scientists
Working in the public interest
Our faculty work on interdisciplinary research teams, conducting about 300 studies at any given time. They partner with affiliate researchers and others from academic institutions and health systems and share findings in the public domain to serve the public good.
See our KPWHRI researcher directory.
Video
Bringing community to the table
KPWHRI research partner Neely Williams shares her views on hesitancy in health research in the Black community.
News
Examining racial inequity in suicide prediction models
Kaiser Permanente researchers stress need to test how prediction models perform in all racial, ethnic groups.
Funding sources
A broad base of support
Most of our support comes from federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health. We also contract with biomedical companies and receive grants from private foundations. About 5 percent of our budget comes from Kaiser Permanente Washington.
See our list of funders.
New funding
Grant of over $55M to boost Alzheimer’s, dementia study
Kaiser Permanente Washington will co-lead an expanded ACT Program to better understand the aging brain.
Research
COVID-19 pandemic research at KPWHRI
Having long tracked infectious diseases and tested vaccines, KPWHRI now focuses on the novel coronavirus.
Recent publications
Bress AP, Cohen JB, Anstey DE, Conroy MB, Ferdinand KC, Fontil V, Margolis KL, Muntner P, Millar MM, Okuyemi KS, Rakotz MK, Reynolds K, Safford MM, Shimbo D, Stuligross J, Green BB, Mohanty AF. Inequities in hypertension control in the United States exposed and exacerbated by COVID-19 and the role of home blood pressure and virtual health care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 May 19:e020997. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.020997. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Lee CS, Laitmer CS, Henriksen JC, Blazes M, Larson EB, Crane PK, Keene CD, Lee AY. Application of deep learning to understand resilience to Alzheimer's disease pathology. Brain Pathol. 2021 May 19:e12974. doi: 10.1111/bpa.12974. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Lee JM, Ichikawa LE, Wernli KJ, Bowles E, Specht JM, Kerlikowske K, Miglioretti DL, Lowry KP, Tosteson ANA, Stout NK, Houssami N, Onega T, Buist DSM. Digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis performance in women with a personal history of breast cancer, 2007-2016. Radiology. 2021 May 18:204581. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021204581. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Hartman SJ, Dillon LW, LaCroix AZ, Natarajan L, Sears DD, Owen N, Dunstan DW, Sallis JF, Schenk S, Allison M, Takemoto M, Herweck AM, Nguyen B, Rosenberg DE. Interrupting sitting time in postmenopausal women: protocol for the rise for health randomized controlled trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2021;10(5):e28684. doi: 10.2196/28684. PubMed
Collaborate with us
KPWHRI oversees all research conducted at Kaiser Permanente Washington, ensuring that all studies involving Kaiser Permanente Washington members are aligned with the organization’s primary mission: to improve health. Researchers from outside Kaiser Permanente Washington can learn more about our processes for collaborating with KPWHRI faculty members.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.