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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

Initiative jointly funds spring 2026 Innovation Gap Fund project with CoMotion

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative, in partnership with CoMotion, has announced the joint award of a $75,000 Innovation Gap Fund grant to a research team led by Mari Winkler, associate professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. This funding will support TheraT, a project that advances the University of Washington’s vision of improving population health while also aligning with the CoMotion Innovation Fund’s goal of enabling research with sustainable commercial or social impact. TheraT is developing a drinkable hydrogel…

Study finds unsecured firearms more common in homes of older adults with cognitive decline

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A new University of Washington–led study finds that older adults experiencing cognitive decline that interferes with daily activities are more likely to live in homes with unsecured firearms. The research analyzed survey data from nearly 4,500 adults age 65 and older across seven U.S. states. About one‑third of respondents reported having a firearm in or around the home, with ownership rates similar among those with and without cognitive symptoms. However, individuals whose confusion or memory loss affected daily activities were…

Initiative announces awardees of spring quarter 2026 Tier 3 pilot research grants

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative has announced the award of two Tier 3 pilot grants to interdisciplinary teams of UW population health researchers. This round of awards includes researchers from four UW schools and colleges—Arts & Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health—as well as several community-based partners. The total value of this funding round is approximately $335,000. “These projects exemplify the kind of innovative, collaborative work needed to improve population health,” said Ali H. Mokdad, the university’s chief…

Winning papers announced for 2026 Population Health Library Research Awards

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Four University of Washington undergraduates have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Population Health Library Research Awards, the Population Health Initiative announced today, recognizing their exceptional academic research. Established in 2017, the Population Health Library Research Award program is a collaboration between the Population Health Initiative and the University of Washington Libraries. It is open to undergraduate students across all three UW campuses, with eligible projects completed either for academic course credit or through the Undergraduate Research Program. Award…

Study shows Washington’s Hepatitis C plan boosted screening while cutting costs

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A University of Washington–led study found that Washington state’s hepatitis C elimination initiative significantly expanded access to testing and treatment while reducing costs per patient over time. Although total hepatitis C–related healthcare costs initially increased after the program launched in 2018, they later declined even as screening rates rose and more cases were identified. The initiative combined widespread screening, reduced barriers to care and discounted purchasing of antiviral medications, making treatment more accessible across the state. Researchers analyzed insurance claims…

Spring 2023 Tier 1 pilot awardees report final findings from funded projects

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative awarded nine Tier 1 pilot grants in spring 2023 to interdisciplinary teams completing exploratory research in areas ranging from disaster planning to mental health to workforce development. These teams represented 10 of the UW’s schools and colleges. Each project has now reached its respective midpoint and are reporting progress in the following areas:

Initiative announces selection of summer 2026 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows

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The Population Health Initiative announced the selection of four graduate fellows for the summer 2026 cohort of the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program, which is run in partnership with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship and CoMotion. The four fellows will spend 10 weeks over the summer producing innovative solutions and contributions to support the work of preexisting, multidisciplinary projects developed by University of Washington researchers. The students selected for this summer’s program are: Name Project School Program Cris Resto Nuestro Valor…

Initiative announces summer 2026 cohort of Applied Research Fellows

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The Population Health Initiative announced the selection of three graduate students and two undergraduate students as the 2026 cohort of the Applied Research Fellowship program. Launched in 2019, the Applied Research Fellowship was created – and continues to be run – in partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology. The program’s goal is to offer students data analysis, critical thinking and team science skills that will help them solve complex population health challenges on…

UW study finds disease-causing tapeworm in Washington coyotes

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A University of Washington study has found the parasitic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, which can infect dogs and humans, in more than one‑third of coyotes tested in the Puget Sound region, marking the first detection of the parasite in a wild host on the contiguous U.S. West Coast. Previously rare in North America, the tapeworm has been spreading for about 15 years and can cause severe, potentially fatal disease characterized by cancer‑like cysts in the liver. While coyotes can carry the…

UW awarded Gold STARS rating for sustainability performance

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The University of Washington has earned a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a recognition it has maintained since first participating in 2012. Administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, STARS ratings are valid for three years and are based on self-reported assessments across academics, operations, planning and engagement. The STARS data helps inform the University’s Sustainability Action Plan, first adopted in 2020 and now being updated for completion by…