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Latest news and updates

Latest news and updates

Initiative jointly funds two spring 2024 Innovation Gap Fund projects with CoMotion

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced with CoMotion the joint funding of two Innovation Gap Funds of $50,000 each. This $100,000 in collective funding will support projects that simultaneously support the UW’s vision for improving population health while also fulfilling the CoMotion Innovation Fund’s goal of enabling research that will achieve sustainable commercial or social impact. The first funded project is Colleague.AI: An AI Assistant for Educators. This project seeks to refine an artificial intelligence-driven assistant that supports…

New study assesses financial impact to business from Vision Zero safety projects

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Seattle has committed to Vision Zero, an international street safety movement. Through numerous infrastructure projects, this proposal aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2030. Despite concerns from local business owners about potential decreases in revenue due to reduced parking and disruptions to regular traffic flow, a study conducted by the University of Washington revealed that Vision Zero-focused safety projects had no adverse effects on businesses’ financial performance. The research team assessed seven pedestrian safety projects launched between 2006 and…

Initiative announces awardees of AI-focused population health pilot projects

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The Population Health Initiative announced the award of five, $100,000 artificial intelligence-focused pilot grants to support interdisciplinary teams of University of Washington researchers to develop preliminary data or proof-of-concept needed to pursue follow-on funding to scale their respective efforts. The total collective value of these awards is roughly $600,000, which includes matching funds from different schools, colleges and units. “The rapid advances we are seeing in technological innovation hold incredible promise for us to realize major progress in addressing some…

UW research finds pharma companies increased opioids marketing after Purdue Pharma lawsuit

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New research from the University of Washington examines the behavior of prescription opioid companies following key events in Kentucky’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma regarding its controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride (OxyContin). While Purdue Pharma significantly decreased its marketing budget for OxyContin, the UW researchers found that Kentucky’s litigation had the opposite effect on competing companies, with those companies marketing opioids to physicians previously pursued by Purdue Pharma, including in counties where the opioid crisis was known to be severe….

Initiative announces awardees of spring quarter 2024 Tier 3 pilot research grants

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative has announced the award of five Tier 3 pilot grants to interdisciplinary teams of population health researchers. The total value of this round of awards is roughly $930,000, which included $850,000 in funding from the initiative plus additional matching funds from different schools, colleges and units. “We are excited to be able to support these innovative, interdisciplinary projects as each seeks to scale its impact,” shared Ali H. Mokdad, the university’s chief strategy…

Winning papers announced for 2024 Population Health Library Research Awards

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today that four undergraduate students have been honored for outstanding scholarship with 2024 Population Health Library Research Awards. This award was created in 2017 in partnership with the University of Washington Libraries and is open to undergraduates from all three UW campuses. The projects submitted were completed for either UW course credit or for the Undergraduate Research Program. The key factors for choosing awardees included the innovativeness of their research hypothesis, the…

Nature for all: Bridging health equity through the Initiative-funded Project Nature

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Engaging in outdoor play and exploration can significantly enhance a child’s physical health and mental well-being. However, not all children and families have equitable access to safe, green environments. This deprivation of nature can be tied to several factors, including systemic racism and economic disparities, and hinder a family’s ability to access nature and reap its health benefits. A new program, titled “Project Nature,” seeks to help families overcome barriers so that all children can connect with nature and lead…

Initiative releases its 2022-24 Report to the Community

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The Population Health Initiative was launched in 2016 by the University of Washington as a 25-year effort to help create a world where all people can live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Eight years later, the Initiative is now driving an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to addressing grand societal challenges. Through these successes, the operational infrastructure is now in place to support the University in turning interdisciplinary attention to key thematic areas of focus. The 2022-24 Population Health Initiative Report…

Initiative awards 13 early-stage pilot grants to teams of interdisciplinary UW investigators

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the award of 13 Tier 1 pilot grants to teams of interdisciplinary researchers representing 11 UW schools and colleges as well as several community-based partners. These 13 awards are worth approximately $400,000, which includes matching funds from schools, departments and units. The projects collectively seek to address grand challenges in areas including climate change, mental health, child health and substance use disorder. “We are delighted with the range of innovative, interdisciplinary…

Initiative selects summer 2024 cohort of Applied Research Fellows

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the selection of three graduate students and two undergraduate students as the 2024 cohort of the summer 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 seeks to offer students training in data analysis, critical thinking and team science skills that will help them…