October 22, 2025
Fortifying cement with seaweed to reduce its carbon footprint
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…
October 15, 2025
An Initiative-funded team examines the ethics of a key genomic dataset
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…
October 8, 2025
New data set helps to expand pedestrian infrastructure mapping
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…
October 1, 2025
UW researchers develop a novel approach for measuring biological age
University of Washington Researchers have recently developed a new health assessment tool for measuring biological age. The “Health Octo Tool” uses eight metrics derived from clinical exams and lab tests to determine biological age. This tool differs from current approaches, which focus on individual diseases, and instead considers aging much more holistically. Led by Dr….
September 23, 2025
Summer 2025 Applied Research Fellows study accessibility for King County Parks
The 2025 University of Washington Population Health Initiative Applied Research Fellowship program recently concluded its research on park accessibility in urban unincorporated areas of King County. The team’s findings offered valuable insights for King County Parks and the King County Department of Natural Resources to inform future resource allocation and project planning. Now in its…
September 16, 2025
Summer 2025 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows develop strategic roadmaps for UW innovations
The Population Health Initiative’s Summer 2025 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program concluded in August with fellows presenting their findings to students, faculty and staff from schools and colleges across the University of Washington campus. Over the course of 10 weeks, the fellows worked on population health innovations developed by UW researchers, exploring how these innovations could…
September 10, 2025
The role of family physicians in America’s maternal healthcare deserts
University of Washington researchers Dr. Mae Dirac and Dr. Emily Godfrey are leading a project funded by the UW Population Health Initiative to investigate how family physicians impact maternal health outcomes in America’s “maternal care deserts” – counties lacking basic obstetrical services. America’s maternal healthcare crisis stands as the worst among wealthy nations, with particularly…
September 3, 2025
New UW research reveals key benefits of mindful awareness
Researchers from the University of Washington’s School of Nursing have recently completed a study focusing on the significant benefits mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT) has for individuals with chronic pain, trauma, and substance use disorders. Dr. Cynthia Price, a UW Professor and director of the Center for Mindful Body Awareness, led the study, which…
August 26, 2025
Cancer therapy aims to eliminate cancer cells while restoring healthy tissue
Cancer treatments can be exceptionally harsh on the body. Chemotherapy, a prominent cancer treatment, is well-known for the harm it inflicts on healthy cells in the body. Two University of Washington researchers, Miqin Zhang and Avik Som, are developing a cancer treatment that kills cancer cells while aiding the body in restoring healthy tissue. Zhang’s…
August 20, 2025
New UW research reveals mental benefits of nature for Girl Scouts
University of Washington researchers discovered that Girl Scouts who physically engage with nature develop stronger feelings of presence and connection compared to those who only observed nature visually. Published in the Journal of Environmental Education, the study analyzed responses from 127 Girl Scouts aged 8-11 about meaningful nature experiences. Study co-author Carly Gray explains in…