Wildfire smoke linked to higher risk of preterm birth, UW study finds

Posted on January 21, 2026

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 development is most active. The risk was highest in the Western U.S., where smoke concentrations and exposure days were greatest, and researchers suggest that fine…

Winter 2025 pilot awardees report mid-project progress in their research

Posted on January 14, 2026

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 UW schools and colleges, as well as several community-based partners. The topics addressed included areas such as injury prevention, strengthening economic supports for victims of…

Students harness AI to shape the future of digital health

Posted on January 6, 2026

New tools are accelerating innovation, and students are rising to meet the moment. On November 15, 2025, 30 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse disciplines gathered at the University of Washington’s Hans Rosling Center for Population Health for the 2025 Sacia Digital Health Innovation Workshop, a dynamic day of ideation in the fast-growing field of digital health. Now in its fifth year, this cross-campus collaboration between the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the Foster School of Business and the Population…

UW-led research finds virtual care surges during 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

Posted on December 16, 2025

In January 2025, wildfires spread from the foothills into urban Los Angeles, causing evacuations and severe air pollution. New research from the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California, published in JAMA Health Forum, analyzed health records of 3.7 million members to assess health impacts and care patterns. The study found significant increases in health care utilization, especially virtual visits, during the first week of the fires. Injury and neuropsychiatric visits also rose sharply. Proximity to burn zones correlated…

New research from the UW shows drug effects in the brain

Posted on December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

A collaboration between researchers from the University of Washington and Northwestern University has developed a novel device to deliver drugs to specific regions of the brain, while simultaneously monitoring neural activity. This device, weighing roughly the same as a paperclip, has provided many insights into how drugs affect brain function and behavior. Led by UW postdoctoral fellow Sean C. Piantadosi, the research team developed a wireless system that combined a pump and light sensor to a brain probe. Their novel…

New funding boosts the UW’s environmental monitoring and AI research

Posted on December 2, 2025

The University of Washington’s College of the Environment has received a $10 million grant from the Fund for Science and Technology, part of the Paul G. Allen philanthropic network, to advance its climate solutions research. The funding will support efforts in climate prediction, environmental monitoring and the use of AI and data modeling to better understand ecosystem health. Faculty involved in the initiative include experts in atmospheric and climate science, geology, forestry, oceanography, fisheries and marine policy. This interdisciplinary approach…

Developing a robot-assisted ultrasound system to improve delivery of CPR

Posted on November 20, 2025

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death globally, with fewer than 10% of out-of-hospital cases in the U.S. resulting in survival, largely due to delays in administering CPR. Dr. Jong Yoon of the University of Washington Bothell is developing a collaborative robot-assisted ultrasound system to help emergency responders assess blood flow and improve CPR effectiveness in real time. The device combines robotics and ultrasound to offer quick, actionable data. It was built with significant contributions from undergraduate students, offering…

Awardees of 2023 Tier 3 pilot grants share their final project outcomes

Posted on November 12, 2025

The Population Health Initiative awarded four Tier 3 pilot grants in spring 2023 to interdisciplinary teams of University of Washington researchers who were working at creating follow-on opportunities for impactful projects that had realized proof-of-concept. These projects featured researchers from five different UW schools and colleges, as well as several community-based partners. The topics addressed by these projects included noise pollution, children’s health and healthcare disparities. Each project has now concluded and shared final outcomes in the following areas:

Initiative awards eight early-stage pilot grant to interdisciplinary UW research teams

Posted on November 4, 2025November 4, 2025

The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced today the award of eight, $25,000 Tier 1 pilot grants to interdisciplinary teams of UW researchers. These teams collectively represent 10 UW schools and colleges plus several community-based partners. “We were delighted at both the high level of interest and the range of innovative project ideas that we received to this funding call,” said Ali H. Mokdad, the UW’s chief strategy officer for population health and professor of health metrics sciences. “We…