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The role of family physicians in America’s maternal healthcare deserts

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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 devastating effects on Black women, who stand three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The research aims to shine a…

New UW research reveals key benefits of mindful awareness

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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 saw researchers teaching participants “interoceptive awareness,” or the ability to conceptualize their internal physical and emotional senses. The study was conducted across Seattle, Port Angeles…

Cancer therapy aims to eliminate cancer cells while restoring healthy tissue

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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 team is creating nanoparticles that can administer tailored cancer treatments that produce minimal side effects, while Som is working on placing therapeutic materials directly inside…

New UW research reveals mental benefits of nature for Girl Scouts

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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 a recent interview that children describing embodied activities like “building a snowman” or “jumping in puddles” reported greater presence in nature than those limited to…

Spring 2024 Tier 3 pilot awardees report midpoint project updates

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The Population Health Initiative awarded five Tier 3 pilot grants to interdisciplinary teams of University of Washington population health researchers in spring 2024. The goal of these awards is to support faculty and PI-eligible staff to create follow-on opportunities for impactful projects that have developed preliminary data or realized proof-of-concept and are seeking to scale their efforts and/or expand the scope of their work. Awarded projects included researchers from nine different UW schools and colleges, as well as a number…

UW Mechanical Engineering research is steering the way towards sustainability

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University of Washington mechanical engineering researchers are advancing sustainability through innovative methods and technologies. At the UW Clean Energy Institute’s Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, researchers are utilizing 3D printing technology for developing more efficient solar cells and quantum materials. Their work with semiconductor materials called perovskites, which start as an ink and dry into thin films at much lower temperatures than conventional silicon, could significantly reduce manufacturing energy requirements while improving scalability and efficiency of solar technologies. In marine energy,…

Spotlight: Kenisha Campbell is the CMO of a pediatric organized system of care

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Navigating the healthcare system should not be a privilege reserved for some families while others face barriers to accessing basic healthcare services. Dr. Kenisha Campbell, a professor of clinical practice in the Division of General Pediatrics at the University of Washington and a 2024 awardee of a Population Health Initiative Tier 1 pilot grant, has made it her professional mission to reduce these inequities. Now, as the newly appointed chief medical officer for the Seattle Children’s Care Network (SCCN), she…

Honoring Bill Neukom, chair of the Initiative’s external advisory board

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The following tribute was posted by then President Ana Mari Cauce on July 18, 2025. Today, the University of Washington community is mourning the passing of Bill Neukom, a visionary leader who dedicated his life to strengthening communities through law, leadership and service. Bill will be remembered not only for his extraordinary impact, but for the warmth, humility and deep purpose he brought to everything he touched. His decades-long connection to the UW leaves a lasting legacy that will continue…

Initiative-led research offers recommendations for improving HPV vaccine uptake

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The human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for several types of cancer, including roughly 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer per year in the United States. New research led by the University of Washington’s Population Health Initiative and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Vaccine Confidence Project suggests that tailored, locally informed interventions can help address barriers and improve HPV vaccine uptake. The study, which was published in the journal Vaccine, investigated the factors behind HPV vaccine hesitancy and…

Autumn 2024 pilot awardees are reporting progress in their projects

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The Population Health Initiative awarded 14 $25,000 Tier 1 pilot grants in autumn quarter 2024 to interdisciplinary University of Washington research teams to investigate pressing population health challenges. The purpose of Tier 1 pilot grants is to support researchers in laying an interdisciplinary foundation for a future project to generate proof-of-concept. Each of the 14 teams has realized progress in their respective projects, with the tabs below detailing research activities completed to date.