News
March 19, 2026
Universal free school meals linked to lower childhood blood pressure
Universal free school meal programs, introduced through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), have shown broad benefits for students, including improved nutrition and academic outcomes. A new University of Washington-led study adds another benefit: lower rates of high blood pressure among students in participating schools, with an 11% net decrease over five years. Researchers suggest that…
March 11, 2026
Awardees of spring 2024 Tier 1 pilot research grants report final project outcomes
The Population Health Initiative awarded 13 $25,000 Tier 1 pilot grants in spring quarter 2024 to interdisciplinary University of Washington research teams to investigate pressing population health challenges. The funded projects collectively sought to address grand challenges in areas including climate change, mental health, child health and substance use disorder. The purpose of these Tier…
March 5, 2026
Seven new members named to the Population Health Initiative executive council
President Robert J. Jones has named seven new representatives to the 30-member University of Washington Population Health Initiative executive council. The council serves as the internal governing body for the Population Health Initiative. The seven representatives, who began their terms during the 2025-26 Academic Year, are: Sylvia Bagley, assistant teaching professor, College of Education Clara…
February 24, 2026
New students recognized for researching population health of Seattle neighborhoods
The Communities & Research (CoRe) project is an opportunity for incoming first-year students at the University of Washington to examine population health on a personal level. In interdisciplinary and collaborative groups, students analyze various factors impacting population health in different Seattle neighborhoods, all through the lens of their expertise, discipline and experience. For the fifth…
February 17, 2026
Four climate change-focused pilot projects report final outcomes
The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced the award of four, $50,000 climate change-focused pilot grants in autumn 2023. These awards were intended to support interdisciplinary teams of researchers to develop preliminary data or proof-of-concept needed to pursue follow-on funding to scale work in areas such as promising advances in sustainable materials and aiding…
February 10, 2026
High-school peer-led project takes on Washington’s opioid crisis
University of Washington researchers are leading a new collaborative project aimed at combating youth opioid overdose deaths in Washington state through a near-peer train-the-trainer model targeting high school students. This approach pairs individuals who have slightly more experience – Seattle University students – than those who they are mentoring – Garfield High School students. This…
February 3, 2026
Applications for 2026 summer applied research fellowships due on March 20
The Population Health Initiative is partnering with the University of Washington’s Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology (CSDE) for the eighth consecutive summer to offer the Population Health Applied Research Fellowship program. Applications for this summer’s cohort will be accepted until 12 p.m. on March 20, 2026, from undergraduate and graduate students across all…
January 28, 2026
Summer 2026 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship applications due April 3
The University of Washington Population Health Initiative is again partnering with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship and CoMotion in summer 2026 for the Social Entrepreneurship Fellows Program. Applications are due at 12 p.m. (Pacific) on Friday, April 3, 2026. The program offers each graduate or professional student $10,000 over the course of 10 weeks to…
January 21, 2026
Wildfire smoke linked to higher risk of preterm birth, UW study finds
About 1 in 10 babies in the United States are born prematurely, which poses serious health risks, making prevention critical for public health. A new University of Washington study, analyzing more than 20,000 births, found that exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy increases the likelihood of preterm birth, especially during the second trimester when placental…
January 14, 2026
Winter 2025 pilot awardees report mid-project progress in their research
The University of Washington Population Health Initiative awarded six Tier 2 pilot grants to interdisciplinary research teams in March 2025. The Tier 2 pilot grant program is intended to support UW researchers in developing preliminary data or the proof-of-concept needed to pursue follow-on funding to scale one’s efforts. These projects include researchers from seven different…
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