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UW-led research finds virtual care surges during 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

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In January 2025, wildfires spread from the foothills into urban Los Angeles, causing evacuations and severe air pollution. New research from the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California, published in JAMA Health Forum, analyzed health records of 3.7 million members to assess health impacts and care patterns. The study found significant increases in health care utilization, especially virtual visits, during the first week of the fires. Injury and neuropsychiatric visits also rose sharply. Proximity to burn zones correlated…

New research from the UW shows drug effects in the brain

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A collaboration between researchers from the University of Washington and Northwestern University has developed a novel device to deliver drugs to specific regions of the brain, while simultaneously monitoring neural activity. This device, weighing roughly the same as a paperclip, has provided many insights into how drugs affect brain function and behavior. Led by UW postdoctoral fellow Sean C. Piantadosi, the research team developed a wireless system that combined a pump and light sensor to a brain probe. Their novel…

New funding boosts the UW’s environmental monitoring and AI research

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The University of Washington’s College of the Environment has received a $10 million grant from the Fund for Science and Technology, part of the Paul G. Allen philanthropic network, to advance its climate solutions research. The funding will support efforts in climate prediction, environmental monitoring and the use of AI and data modeling to better understand ecosystem health. Faculty involved in the initiative include experts in atmospheric and climate science, geology, forestry, oceanography, fisheries and marine policy. This interdisciplinary approach…

Developing a robot-assisted ultrasound system to improve delivery of CPR

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Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death globally, with fewer than 10% of out-of-hospital cases in the U.S. resulting in survival, largely due to delays in administering CPR. Dr. Jong Yoon of the University of Washington Bothell is developing a collaborative robot-assisted ultrasound system to help emergency responders assess blood flow and improve CPR effectiveness in real time. The device combines robotics and ultrasound to offer quick, actionable data. It was built with significant contributions from undergraduate students, offering…

Awardees of 2023 Tier 3 pilot grants share their final project outcomes

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The Population Health Initiative awarded four Tier 3 pilot grants in spring 2023 to interdisciplinary teams of University of Washington researchers who were working at creating follow-on opportunities for impactful projects that had realized proof-of-concept. These projects featured researchers from five different UW schools and colleges, as well as several community-based partners. The topics addressed by these projects included noise pollution, children’s health and healthcare disparities. Each project has now concluded and shared final outcomes in the following areas:

Initiative awards eight early-stage pilot grant to interdisciplinary UW research teams

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the award of eight, $25,000 Tier 1 pilot grants to interdisciplinary teams of UW researchers. These teams collectively represent 10 UW schools and colleges plus several community-based partners. “We were delighted at both the high level of interest and the range of innovative project ideas that we received to this funding call,” said Ali H. Mokdad, the UW’s chief strategy officer for population health and professor of health metrics sciences. “We…

Winter 2026 course to introduce programs that improve youth mental health, well-being

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative, the College of Education and the School of Social Work are partnering to offer a two-credit General Studies course during winter quarter 2026 that will introduce students to a number of UW and community-based research and programs that are working to improve youth mental health and well-being. Undergraduates and graduate students may take this course for credit; graduate students will need to request an add code. The course, “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Youth Mental…

Fortifying cement with seaweed to reduce its carbon footprint

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Concrete is the second most-used material on Earth after water, but its key ingredient, cement, contributes up to 10% of global CO₂ emissions. To tackle this, researchers at the University of Washington and Microsoft developed a low-carbon concrete by incorporating powdered seaweed, which reduced its global warming potential by 21% without compromising strength. Machine learning accelerated the discovery process, allowing the team to identify an optimal formulation in just 28 days instead of years. The researchers aim to expand this…

An Initiative-funded team examines the ethics of a key genomic dataset

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University of Washington researchers are leading new research that focuses on the ethical and social implications of using legacy datasets in population health research. Developed through a collaboration between UW’s Department of Bioethics & Humanities and the Department of Biostatistics, the project focuses specifically on the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), which is a dataset featuring immortalized cell lines from 52 distinct human populations. HGDP garnered significant criticism at its establishment in the 1990s, particularly from Indigenous communities and advocacy…

New data set helps to expand pedestrian infrastructure mapping

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Thanks to the new data set OS-CONNECT, Washington state pedestrians now have unprecedented access to customized accessible routes. Developed by researchers from the University of Washington’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology, OS-CONNECT, uses machine learning with human verification to expand AccessMap, a statewide mapping project. OS-CONNECT allows AccessMap to cover pedestrian infrastructure throughout Washington, not just Seattle. The innovative platform allows users to plan routes based on specific accessibility requirements — while providing urban planners critical data to identify infrastructure…