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Initiative announces summer 2020 Social Entrepreneurship Fellows

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The Population Health Initiative today announced the award of Population Health Social Entrepreneurship Fellowships to four graduate students who will explore how to best deploy social entrepreneurship models for population health innovations developed by University of Washington researchers. All innovations are seeking novel ideas for how they can be financially sustainable while at the same time ensuring that the social impact of the work remains as important as revenue generation. Students selected for this summer’s program are: Name Degree Program…

Awardees announced for 2020 undergraduate research recognition awards

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The Population Health Initiative today announced the award of Population Health Recognition Awards to 10 students participating in the Undergraduate Research Symposium for their innovative and well-presented population health research work. This award was created in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Program and was open to students from all three campuses who are presenting at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, May 15. More than 75 applications were received for this award. The 10 awardees, their majors, and their…

Initiative announces award of 21 COVID-19 rapid response grants

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced the award of approximately $350,000 in COVID-19 rapid response grants to 21 different faculty-led teams. These teams are composed of individuals representing 10 different schools and colleges. Funding was partially matched by additional school, college and departmental funds, bringing the total value of these awards to roughly $820,000. “A challenge of this magnitude requires us to draw upon the breadth of the university’s expertise to respond, and the range of innovative, collaborative…

UW study reveals disparities in evictions

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A new University of Washington study of evictions around the state shows that more women are evicted than men. Further, eviction rates among black and Latinx adults are almost seven times higher than for white adults in the state’s two most populous counties. Based on eviction filings from each of Washington’s 39 counties, the report and its series of interactive maps illustrate where, and to whom, evictions hit hardest. The surrounding narrative addresses why, and what may be done about…

UW researchers investigate surprising arsenic discoveries in King County lake

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Lake Killarney in Federal Way, Washington is one of several lakes that has arsenic-contaminated sediments from the former American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) copper smelter located about 15 miles away near Tacoma, Washington. After a surprising discovery that some shallow lakes, such as Lake Killarney, have unique characteristics that facilitate the movement of arsenic from lakebed sediment up into the food web, a team of University of Washington researchers is working to further investigate the movement of water and…

Initiative launches COVID-19 rapid response grant program

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The Population Health Initiative today announced the launch of a new COVID-19 rapid response grant program. Awards of up to $20,000 each will be available to support University of Washington investigators to quickly launch research projects that address a range of population health-related challenges the pandemic has created. “Our goal with this program is to accelerate novel research that helps us to better understand or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on all facets of life,” shared Ali H. Mokdad, the…

New vegetation database supports better wildfire and smoke predictions

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Dry landscapes, warmer temperatures and more development near forested areas all contribute to large wildfires across North America each year. Smoke and haze from these fires can travel hundreds of miles from their source, affecting the health and well-being of communities across the country. Scientists currently rely on models that try to predict the severity of wildfires and smoke. The amount of living and dead vegetation on a landscape, known as fuels, is a key part of the equation when…

Application period to open for Graduate Certificate in International Humanitarian Response

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The Population Health Initiative will begin accepting applications for the 2020-21 cohort of students for the Graduate Certificate in International Humanitarian Response on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Applications can be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific) on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. The certificate is intended to provide University of Washington graduate and professional students from a variety of disciplines with an integrated body of study to better support prevention, mitigation, response and recovery from crises to assist those affected by disasters…

Initiative announces award of 2020 pilot research grants

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The University of Washington Population Health Initiative announced the award of approximately $250,000 in pilot research grant funding to six different faculty-led teams. These teams are composed of individuals representing 10 different schools and colleges. Funding was partially matched by additional school, college and departmental funds, bringing the total value of these awards to roughly $480,000. “The breadth of innovative project ideas and interdisciplinary collaborations represented in this year’s round of applications is impressive,” said Ali H. Mokdad, the university’s…

New UW study shows warmer temperatures will increase arsenic levels in rice

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Researchers at the University of Washington have found that warmer temperatures, at levels expected under most climate change projections, can lead to higher concentrations of arsenic in rice grains. Arsenic in large doses is a toxin linked to multiple health conditions and dietary-related cancers. Arsenic occurs naturally in the soil, though its concentration is higher in areas that have historically used arsenic-based herbicides or where irrigation water contains arsenic. When farmers grow crops like rice under flooded conditions, arsenic is…