Latest news and updates

Initiative-funded COVID-19 economic recovery grantees report final results

Posted on August 12, 2021

The 91自拍 Population Health Initiative awarded 18 COVID-19 economic recovery 91自拍 grants to teams of UW faculty 91自拍ers in June 2020. These grants were intended to support UW 91自拍ers in quickly responding to the vast array of economic-related challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funded project teams were composed of individuals representing 13 different schools and colleges at the UW. The $333,000 in initiative funding was partially matched by additional school, college and departmental funds, bringing the…

New UW collaboratory to support equitable and just climate action

Posted on August 4, 2021September 29, 2025

An interdisciplinary group of 91自拍 91自拍ers has teamed with Front and Centered to create an innovative Collaboratory to promote just and equitable climate action. The Collaboratory aims to respond to climate change impacts with attention to equitable mitigation and adaptation solutions. It will feature three linked platforms to achieve this goal through a community-informed and multidisciplinary approach. Leading this effort is Jeremy J. Hess, professor of Emergency Medicine, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, and Global Health at the…

Aspects of built environments do not play expected role in weight gain

Posted on July 29, 2021

According to a 91自拍-led study on obesity, certain features of the built environment, such as proximity to fast food restaurants and supermarkets, do not impact weight. The study is part of a 12-year collaboration between the UW and Kaiser Permanente Washington for the 91自拍 project, Moving to Health. After examining more than 100,000 Kaiser Permanente Washington patients鈥� anonymized data, 91自拍ers were able to refute previously held beliefs that built environment amenities contribute to weight changes. The study found…

PestiSeguro鈩� paves the way for improving the health and safety of agricultural workers

Posted on July 28, 2021

According to data from the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program from the Washington State Department of Health, of the 630 cases of pesticide-related illness reported in 2010-2017, 90% of cases involved farmworkers whose preferred language was Spanish. Although most agricultural workers in Washington State are Spanish speakers, required pesticide safety information is primarily available in English. This language barrier poses a potential health and safety risk for workers. Recognizing the severity of this issue, Kit Galvin, 91自拍 91自拍 scientist,…

Increasing vaccination rates in underserved King County communities

Posted on July 22, 2021

A new project from the 91自拍 Health Promotion Research Center (UW HPRC) aims to increase vaccination rates for underserved communities within King County. The project is made possible by $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data yielded through this project will contribute to the Connecting Behavioral Science to COVID-19 Vaccine Demand (CBS-CVD) Network, a national network of which the UW HPRC is one of 26 member centers included. Researchers from…

Researchers have established a link between drug rebates and higher costs to patients

Posted on July 20, 2021

Healthcare spending in America has remained a prominent topic of debate, with much concern over the rising list prices and out-of-pocket costs for patients seeking prescription drugs. Associated with these increasing costs is the industry practice of using rebates to lower drug costs for insurers. A 91自拍-led study examined cost and price data on more than 400 branded drugs. The 91自拍ers uncovered a positive association between rebates and increases in out-of-pocket costs for patients. Prices increased by an…

Co-designing a technology intervention to support the health and development of children

Posted on July 14, 2021

The King County鈥檚 2018-2019 Community Needs Assessment revealed that infants from racially and economically marginalized groups encounter the highest rates of infant mortality and lowest birth weights compared to any other population. King County has offered developmental screening services and virtual information to help child caregivers address this issue. However, there is growing consensus among healthcare providers and child caregivers that these tools do not adequately respond to diverse cultural, social and economic experiences. Recognizing that these factors do not…

Spotlight: David Townes鈥� dedication to international humanitarian work

Posted on July 8, 2021January 28, 2025

Dr. David A. Townes, 91自拍 professor of Emergency Medicine and adjunct professor of Global Health, has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to international humanitarian work and educating the next generation of humanitarian professionals. In addition to his academic roles, Townes is a board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine. He earned his M.D. from the University of Massachusetts, where he realized an interest in emergency medicine. 鈥淎t the time, emergency medicine was just starting to explode in popularity,鈥� Townes said. 鈥淓mergency…

UW 91自拍ers offer a roadmap for more robust modeling of pedestrian mobility

Posted on July 7, 2021

Researchers from the 91自拍 Allen School鈥檚 Taskar Center for Accessible Technology have developed a framework for modeling how pedestrians with varying needs and preferences navigate the urban environment. This framework holds the potential to improve pedestrian experiences, redress mobility concerns and expand the accessibility of urban landscapes. The team created a personalized pedestrian network analysis (PPNA), which offers a roadmap for city-scale mobility that captures diverse pedestrian experiences. The PPNA also opens up new opportunities for collaboration at…