News
October 22, 2024
Fueling the flame: Initiative pilot grant studies health risk of increasing heat and wildfires
Agricultural communities in the western portion of the U.S. are becoming more exposed to extreme heat and wildfire smoke (WFS) as a result of climate change, adversely impacting the health of the general population and posing a greater risk to outdoor crop workers. Washington state leads the U.S. in apple, blueberry and cherry production, with…
October 18, 2024
UW faculty discuss how the H5N1 bird flu outbreak could impact humans, our ecosystems
A major outbreak of a new strain of bird flu began circulating the world in 2020 and has killed millions of wild birds and infected poultry, dairy cattle and domestic cats to date. A few humans have also died from bird flu infection. Federal health officials have deemed the Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 a…
October 16, 2024
Initiative-funded project seeks to understand impact of climate change on mental health
The continued rise in focus on climate change comes as a result of increasing temperatures, extreme storms and wildfires. Distress experienced as a result of an awareness that climate change underlies these changing weather patterns can be referred to as “climate change distress” (CC-D), which is elevated among young adults and could be linked to…
October 9, 2024
Initiative-funded project studies how culturally sensitive communication styles affects health AI
The capabilities of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) have improved dramatically in healthcare settings, with the potential to promote mental health and increase adherence to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. However, current AI-based chatbots lack the understanding of cultural differences needed to support communication with patients and ensure positive health outcomes. Communication styles vary across cultures and prove…
October 3, 2024
Applied Research Fellowship project explores local King County business landscape
The 2024 University of Washington Population Health Initiative Applied Research Fellowship program recently concluded their research assessing trends in the local business landscape in King County through the use of novel data sources. Their findings offer useful insights for King County policymakers regarding future resource allocations. In its fifth year, the program is a collaboration…
October 1, 2024
Awardees of 2022 Tier 3 pilot grants share their final project outcomes
Five teams of University of Washington investigators were awarded Population Health Initiative awarded five Tier 3 pilot grants in June 2022. These project teams represented seven different UW schools and colleges, as well as several community-based partners, and were intended to support faculty and PI-eligible staff to create follow-on opportunities for impactful projects that had…
September 25, 2024
Awardees of winter 2023 Tier 1 pilot research grants report final project outcomes
The Population Health Initiative awarded four Tier 1 pilot grants in winter 2023 to interdisciplinary University of Washington research teams. These teams represented researchers from the UW’s College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education, School of Medicine, School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership (UW Tacoma) and School of Public Health, plus several community-based partners….
September 19, 2024
UW researcher’s six year permafrost study includes science instruction for foster youth
Joel Eklof, a University of Washington civil & environmental engineering doctoral student, recently discussed his six-year study of the climatic impact of thawing permafrost in Alaska, as well as his pursuit to expand science and leadership skills in foster care youth through the Fostering Science Program. Eklof’s research has found variations in weather conditions at…
September 17, 2024
Initiative-funded AI pilot project looks to create datasets that spot and predict future pandemics
The origins of the COVID-19 pandemic reflect a larger trend of increasingly frequent, severe and widespread human disease transmission caused by changes in global biotic and abiotic systems. These changes are a result of climate change, land-use change, globalization and urbanization, all of which are causing unprecedented shifts in ecosystems that result in a greater…
September 10, 2024
Summer 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows finish their projects and report out findings
The Population Health Initiative’s summer 2024 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program concluded in August with the fellows presenting their findings to students, faculty and staff from schools and colleges across campus. The fellows spent 10 weeks working on population health innovations developed by University of Washington researchers to determine how these innovations could be financially sustainable…
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