Laura E. Ichikawa, MS

Biography

With more than 25 years at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI), Laura Ichikawa, MS, is known for her analytical skills, attention to detail regarding study design and data management, and expertise in data visualization. Her experience includes observational studies, randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and multisite analyses.

Ms. Ichikawa is primarily focused on breast cancer and women’s health. She is involved in two large, multisite National Cancer Institute-funded projects: the Statistical Coordinating Center for the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) and a colorectal research site for Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR). Much of her work with the BCSC has been evaluating mammography performance and use of other imaging modalities such as MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, especially after a breast cancer diagnosis. Ms. Ichikawa also participated in collaborative research through the Cancer Research Network, including a widely publicized 2004 study that linked not having screening mammograms to late-stage breast cancer. More recently, this work examined the association of chemotherapy use with peripheral neuropathy. Ms. Ichikawa is excited to continue her work in breast cancer research, including in screening, treatment, surveillance, and survival.

Ms. Ichikawa's research with retired KPWHRI Senior Investigator Delia Scholes, PhD, includes studies examining bone loss associated with the injectable hormonal contraceptive Depo-Provera in 2002 and 2005 and oral contraceptives in 2011. She continues to work in areas of women’s health and contraceptive methods.

Ms. Ichikawa is a member of the American Statistical Association and its Puget Sound chapter.

Research interests and experience

Biostatistics

Longitudinal data analysis
Cancer

Biostatistics; breast cancer
Women's Health

Biostatistics; hormonal contraception and bone density

Recent publications

Sherman KJ, Hawkes RJ, Ichikawa L, Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Avins AL, Khalsa PS. Comparing recruitment strategies in a study of acupuncture for chronic back pain. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2009;9(1):69. PubMed

Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Ichikawa L, Avins AL, Barlow WE, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. Characteristics of patients with chronic back pain who benefit from acupuncture. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009;10(1):114. PubMed

Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, Erro JH, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE, Delaney K, Hawkes R, Hamilton L, Pressman A, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(9):858-66. PubMed

Arterburn D, Ichikawa L, Ludman E, Operskalski B, Linde J, Anderson E, Rohde P, Jeffery R, Simon G. Validity of clinical body weight measures as substitutes for missing data in a randomized trial. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice. 2008;10(4):277-81.

Ott SM, Ichikawa LE, LaCroix AZ, Scholes D. Navel jewelry artifacts and intravertebral variation in spine bone densitometry in adolescents and young women. J Clin Densitom. 2009 Jan-Mar;12(1):84-8. Epub 2008 Nov 5. PubMed

Rohde P, Ichikawa L, Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Linde JA, Jeffery RW, Operskalski BH. Associations of child sexual and physical abuse with obesity and depression in middle-aged women. Child Abuse Negl. 2008;32(9):878-87. Epub 2008 Oct 22. PubMed

Jeffery RW, Linde JA, Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Rohde P, Ichikawa LE, Finch EA. Reported food choices in older women in relation to BMI and depressive symptoms. Appetite. 2009 Feb;52(1):238-40. Epub 2008 Aug 28. PubMed

Ott SM, Lacroix AZ, Scholes D, Ichikawa LE, Wu K. Effects of three years of low-dose thiazides on mineral metabolism in healthy elderly persons. Osteoporos Int. 2008;19(9):1315-22. Epub 2008 Apr 19. PubMed

Tice JA, Cummings SR, Smith-Bindman R, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE, Kerlikowske K. Using clinical factors and mammographic breast density to estimate breast cancer risk: development and validation of a new predictive model. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148(5):337-47. PubMed

Jeffery RW, Finch EA, Linde JA, Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Operskalski BH, Rohde P, Ichikawa LE. Does clinical depression affect the accuracy of self-reported height and weight in obese women? Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008;16(2):473-5. PubMed