Cancer is complex, so our researchers work to improve cancer control on many levels, from prevention and screening through treatment and survivorship. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) was the first organization to develop and implement an evidence-based breast cancer screening program. This novel initiative used a computer-based registry before electronic health records (EHRs) existed. The program led to a rich portfolio of studies including on breast, colorectal, blood, cervical, lung, ovarian, and other cancer types. “Decades later,” says Karen Wernli, PhD, KPWHRI associate investigator, “Kaiser Permanente Washington is just as committed to developing and evaluating innovations in cancer care.”
The core of KPWHRI cancer research lies in its participation in many collaborative networks and programs. “Collaboration increases the power of Kaiser Permanente studies and helps us learn from different populations and health care settings,” says senior investigator Jessica Chubak, PhD. Examples of these networks include:
A'mar T, Beatty JD, Fedorenko C, Markowitz D, Corey T, Lange J, Schwartz SM, Huang B, Chubak J, Etzioni R. Incorporating breast cancer recurrence events into population-based cancer registries using medical claims: cohort study. JMIR Cancer. 2020 Aug 17;6(2):e18143. doi: 10.2196/18143. PubMed
Ashare RL, Bernstein SL, Schnoll R, Gross R, Catz SL, Cioe P, Crothers K, Hitsman B, Marhefka SL, McClure JB, Pacek LR, Vidrine DJ, Vilardaga R, Kaufman A, Edelman EJ. The United States National Cancer Institute’s coordinated research effort on tobacco use as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people with HIV. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 Aug 17:ntaa155. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaa155. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Thomas M, Sakoda LC, Hoffmeister M, Rosenthal EA, Lee JK, van Duijnhoven FJB, Platz EA, Wu AH, Dampier CH, de la Chapelle A, Wolk A, Joshi AD, Burnett-Hartman A, Gsur A, Lindblom A, Castells A, Win AK, Namjou B, Van Guelpen B, Tangen CM, He Q, Li CI, Schafmayer C, Joshu CE, Ulrich CM, Bishop DT, Buchanan DD, Schaid D, Drew DA, Muller DC, Duggan D, Crosslin DR, Albanes D, Giovannucci EL, Larson E, Qu F, Mentch F, Giles GG, Hakonarson H, Hampel H, Stanaway IB, Figueiredo JC, Huyghe JR, Minnier J, Chang-Claude J, Hampe J, Harley JB, Visvanathan K, Curtis KR, Offit K, Li L, Le Marchand L, Vodickova L, Gunter MJ, Jenkins MA, Slattery ML, Lemire M, Woods MO, Song M, Murphy N, Lindor NM, Dikilitas O, Pharoah PDP, Campbell PT, Newcomb PA, Milne RL, MacInnis RJ, Castellví-Bel S, Ogino S, Berndt SI, Bézieau S, Thibodeau SN, Gallinger SJ, Zaidi SH, Harrison TA, Keku TO, Hudson TJ, Vymetalkova V, Moreno V, Martín V, Arndt V, Wei WQ, Chung W, Su YR, Hayes RB, White E, Vodicka P, Casey G, Gruber SB, Schoen RE, Chan AT, Potter JD, Brenner H, Jarvik GP, Corley DA, Peters U, Hsu L. Genome-wide modeling of polygenic risk score in colorectal cancer risk. Am J Hum Genet. 2020 Jul 29:S0002-9297(20)30236-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.07.006. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Bissell MCS, Kerlikowske K, Sprague BL, Tice JA, Gard CC, Tossas KY, Rauscher GH, Trentham-Dietz A, Henderson LM, Onega T, Keegan THM, Miglioretti DL. Breast cancer population attributable risk proportions associated with body mass index and breast density by race/ethnicity and menopausal status. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020 Oct;29(10):2048-2056. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0358. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PubMed
Green BB, Meenan RT. Colorectal cancer screening: the costs and benefits of getting to 80% in every community. Cancer. 2020 Jul 20. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32990. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
![]() Melissa L. Anderson, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Denise M. Boudreau, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Erin J. Bowles, MPHResearch Associate |
![]() Diana S. Buist, PhD, MPHDirector of Research and Strategic Partnerships; Senior Investigator |
![]() David S. Carrell, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhD, MBHLSenior Investigator |
![]() Yates Coley, PhDAssistant Investigator |
![]() Andrea J. Cook, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Marlaine Gray, PhDAssistant Investigator |
![]() Beverly B. Green, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Laura E. Ichikawa, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Aruna Kamineni, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Jennifer B. McClure, PhDDirector of Research, Faculty, & Development; Senior Investigator |
![]() Ellen O'Meara, PhDResearch Associate |
![]() Lorella Palazzo, PhDResearch Associate |
![]() Gaia Pocobelli, PhDResearch Associate |
![]() Leah Tuzzio, MPHResearch Associate |
![]() Rod L. Walker, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Robert D. Wellman, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Onchee Yu, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Weiwei Zhu, MSBiostatistician III |
![]() Yu-Ru Su, PhDAssistant Investigator |
Wylie Burke, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Medical History and Ethics
Joann G. Elmore, MD, MPH
Harborview Medical Center; UW Department of Epidemiology
Larry Kessler, ScD
UW Department of Health Services
Constance D. Lehman, MD, PhD
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; UW Department of Radiology
Kathy Leppig, MD
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington; UW Department of Pathology
Peggy L. Porter, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC); UW Department of Pathology
Emily White, PhD
FHCRC; UW Department of Epidemiology
Rachel Winer, PhD, MPH
Fred Hutchinson/UW Cancer Consortium; UW Department of Epidemiology