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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…

Initiative selects four graduate students as summer Social Entrepreneurship Fellows

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the selection of four graduate fellows for the summer 2024 cohort of the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program, which is run in partnership with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, CoMotion and the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. This year’s fellows will spend 10 weeks over the summer producing innovative solutions and contributions to support the work of multidisciplinary projects developed by University of Washington researchers. The students selected for this…

Honorees announced for 2024 undergraduate research recognition awards

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the 27 students who received Population Health Recognition Awards as part of their participation in the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium. These awards, which represent 21 separate projects, recognize each of the students for their innovative and well-presented research work. This award was created in partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research in 2017 as an opportunity for students across all three campuses presenting at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday,…

Building authentic relationships between academic researchers and communities

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History is fraught with repeated violations of researchers breaching the trust of minority communities. From the well-known cases of the 1932 Tuskegee Syphilis study to the more recent Havasupai Genetic Diabetes Research, these ethical violations underscore the importance of prioritizing and fostering respectful and culturally competent relationships between researchers and the communities with which they engage. By embracing relationship-centered research, the genuine prioritization of the needs of the population can occur, advancing efforts to dismantle health disparities. In Spring 2023,…