Documenting the Impact of Abortion Myths on Healthcare Providers and Advocates

Investigators
Anna Lee Swan, Information School
Amanda Lock Swarr, Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
Rachel Moran, Information School
Taylor Agajanian, Information School
Izzi Grasso, Information School
Andrew Beers, Department of Human-Centered Design & Engineering
Emma Spiro, Information School

Project summary
Abortion is a common and safe medical procedure with a long history of practice within the U.S. Yet, inaccurate and misleading information around abortion persists, including falsehoods about the accessibility and legality of abortion related healthcare, myths around long-term physical and mental impacts, and misleading descriptions of abortion procedures. The prevalence of inaccuracies has been exacerbated by the patchwork of state laws governing access to abortion in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in May 2022. Despite extensive documentation of abortion-related misinformation in online and offline spaces, and calls of concern from healthcare practitioners about such content, little academic research exists documenting and examining how misleading abortion information impacts the everyday work of healthcare providers and others working within abortion healthcare. Accordingly, this research project looked to address these current gaps to properly document the impacts of misleading information on reproductive healthcare providers.

The goals of this project were to:

1. Build a research agenda regarding the impact of misleading information about abortion healthcare on the work of healthcare professionals, provider-patient interactions, and individual knowledge about abortion healthcare.
2. Conduct a needs assessment via interviews with healthcare professionals and advocates to identify gaps and priorities for research into abortion related myths, particularly those amplified on social media.
3. Build partnerships between the UW Center for an Informed Public (CIP) and regional practitioners to facilitate broader projects exploring interventions to mitigate the impact of misleading information about abortion.

The research team conducted 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews with abortion healthcare providers and advocates between October 2023 and January 2024. Interviewees were recruited through snowball sampling using email listservs and personal connections with researchers and practitioners in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) medical region, plus neighboring state Oregon. Interviews followed a general outline with intentional space for participants to lead conversation in whatever direction they wanted. Questions pertained to experiences of misinformation within patient interactions, considerations of public knowledge around abortion healthcare and prominent myths and misconceptions, experiences of patient information-seeking online about abortion, and strategies interviewees deploy when they encounter misinformation in their patient interactions. Interviews were conducted via Zoom and lasted, on average, 45 minutes. Audio recordings were taken for transcripts to be obtained.

Researchers conducted a grounded thematic analysis of the interview transcripts. An initial team of four researchers used the qualitative data analysis software Atlas.TI to open code the full set of transcripts to identify initial themes and points of interest. The full research team then met and used visual collaboration software Miro to undertake a collaborative clustering activity in which researchers co-located similar codes, identified salient themes from the clusters, and discussed connections between clusters. A smaller group of researchers then used the results of the clustering activity to form the basis of a codebook which was used to code all 14 transcripts.

Emergent analysis highlights several themes related to abortion myths and how they impact patient-practitioner relationships. Notably we find that while healthcare providers see online sources as a major vector of abortion healthcare-related myths, practitioners do not feel confident that they are aware of the full scope of abortion-related myths circulating in their state. This is the result of individual hesitancy and/or lack of capacity to engage with social media discussions of abortion. Almost all interviewees highlighted a need to disengage from online spaces in which abortion-related discussion could occur, mostly to protect their mental wellbeing from the potential of harassment and from the emotionally draining nature of facing a barrage of abortion-related misinformation. Healthcare advocates, on the other hand, better understand the scope of local misinformation landscapes but don鈥檛 always have opportunities to engage with (potential) patients to effectively debunk myths. In addition, all interviewees pointed towards stigma as a motivating factor in misinformation spread and a major barrier to debunking myths. Stigma around abortion itself, around certain providers and organizations, notably Planned Parenthood, and even stigma within medical institutions, stifled the ability of practitioners to have open conversations with patients that could surface potential misconceptions. Further, when misinformation did arise within patient-practitioner conversations, practitioners believed that societal stigma around abortion decreased the likelihood that patients would accept corrections to misconceptions. Moreover, all interviewees suggested that motivational interviewing techniques are more effective than traditional fact-checking when discussing misleading abortion information with patients.

Overall, findings highlight a need for academic research to fill gaps in understanding of emerging abortion myths online and opportunities for interventions through the creation of motivational interviewing frameworks tailored towards the realities of the abortion healthcare information landscape.

Assessing for Violence Exposure and Other Health-Related Social Needs in Children by Pediatric Health Care Providers

Investigators
Anna Bender, Department of Pediatrics
Frederick Rivara, Department of Pediatrics
Anjum Hajat, Department of Epidemiology
Megan Moore, School of Social Work
Beth Ebel, Department of Pediatrics
Brian Johnston, Department of Pediatrics
Monica Vavilala, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

Project summary
Through individual, semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of pediatric health care providers (e.g., pediatricians, ancillary support staff) across Washington, this study aimed to: (1) identify existing health-related social needs (HRSN) assessment processes and tools; (2) describe current facilitators and barriers to assessing for HRSN, particularly child exposure to violence (CEV); (3) understand follow-up care processes and resources for identified HRSNs; and (4) explore innovative strategies for effective, consistent HRSN assessment and follow-up care.

Following pilot testing of our interview guide and discussions with co-investigators, we connected with individuals across co-investigators’ professional networks in the State to recruit pediatric healthcare providers into this study. We also collaborated with the Washington State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP) to share information about our study with clinic sites supported by legislative funding (ESSB 5693, Sec. 211 (103)) to embed community health workers into pediatric primary care clinics. We completed individual interviews with 35 providers across the State of Washington, including pediatricians, community health workers, and social workers. We have begun our analysis of the data, the preliminary findings of which are summarized below.

For Aim 1 findings, participants reported varied current practices for conducting HRSN assessments, including differences in the assessment tools used (e.g., standardized measures or clinic-generated questions), cadence of assessments, and assessment processes (e.g., self-administered by patient prior to visit or in conversation with providers).

In Aim 2, participants reported common facilitators and barriers to conducting HRSN assessments, primarily time and personnel constraints, the complexity of family needs, the need for improved measures, and the lack of adequate potential referral resources if a need was identified by families. Participants reported some unique barriers/facilitators related to their patient population (e.g., adequate interpretation services) and clinic (e.g., presence of community health workers to assist with assessments).

Across clinics for Aim 3, participants reported differing processes for addressing identified HRSN, including the personnel designated to connect families to HRSN services and resources, communication processes between providers, and processes to follow-up on any identified HRSN or suggested referrals.

In Aim 4, despite the barriers identified in Aim 2, participants consistently reported the value of HRSN assessments in pediatric primary care settings to ensure high-quality, holistic healthcare for children. Therefore, participants reported a range of innovative solutions to support the implementation of HRSN assessments in pediatric primary care settings, including the presence of community health workers or social workers in clinics and the development of novel measurement tools (e.g., those that also assess family strengths, pictorial screeners).

A Qualitative Study of the Psychological Costs of Citizen-State Interactions for Trans People

Investigators
Isaac Sederbaum, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Arjee Restar, Departments of Epidemiology and Health Systems and Population Health
Karin Martin, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance
Rachel Fyall, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Project summary
This project had three main goals, all which were met. The first goal was training an all-trans advisory board to aid in the research process. The team recruited and trained four people, who in turn helped to create the survey and interview protocols. The second goal was to conduct 50 interviews with trans adults. After a number of scheduling issues, we were able to complete 43 hour-long interviews, code them, and construct a codebook. The final goal was that this project would result in increased consideration of trans people in research and interventions aimed at reducing administrative burden. While the dissertation for investigator Sederbaum is not yet published yet, he has had multiple scholars contact him with interest in the work.

Analysis is currently on-going, but one key finding is that trans people are acutely aware of how street-level bureaucrats gatekeep needed services. As a result, many participants said they are willing to experience stress and stigma because the services they are applying for (SNAP, Medicaid, and/or Unemployment Insurance) as a necessity for their overall wellbeing.

A second preliminary finding is that trans people make calculated choices about how they present their gender when interacting with frontline workers. Many participants who had not yet changed the sex markers on their IDs shared that they would dress in accordance with their birth sex, rather than their gender identity. This choice was based on many decisions, including fear of being accused of fraud, denied the service they were applying for, and treated poorly for being trans.

Working Towards Prevention: Identifying Early Predictors of Risk for Schizophrenia in Diverse Youth

Investigators
Mahnoor Hyat, Department of Psychology
Jennifer Forsyth, Department of Psychology
Alison Fohner, Department of Epidemiology
Katherine Foster, Departments of Psychology and Global Health

Project summary
Behavioral and cognitive signs precede schizophrenia (SCZ) and SCZ polygenic risk scores (PRS) have been associated with cognition and mental health symptoms in European ancestry youth. The current project aimed to identify early behavioral markers of genetic risk for SCZ in youth with diverse ancestry. Specifically, we examined whether genetic risk for SCZ was linked to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning in childhood, and whether molecularly defined genetic risk provided information beyond what is gathered through parent-reported family history of SCZ. Our overarching goal was to develop a team well-poised to conduct population-health research and work towards the equitable application of genetics in mental health. In the long run, we hope that this project will help improve screening for elevated SCZ risk across diverse youth in healthcare settings.

To achieve this goal, we utilized data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (https://abcdstudy.org/), which is the largest, nationally representative, longitudinal study of child development in the US and includes genetic, behavioral, clinical, environmental and neuroimaging information on roughly 12,000 individuals. Our final sample consisted of 5,636 European, 2,093 African, and 1,477 Admixed American ancestry individuals (47.4% female; mean age=9.92 yrs). We computed PRS for SCZ for each individual, providing a molecular measure of genetic risk for the disorder, using PRS-CSx, a statistical tool that improves cross-ancestry accuracy of PRS. The SCZ-PRS were then normalized within ancestry groups and tested for associations with weighted measure of psychosis family history, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the NIH toolbox cognition battery (NIH-TB). We also examined associations of psychosis family history with CBCL and NIH-TB since family history has historically been used as a proxy of genetic risk as well. Lastly, we generated ultivariable models which included both risk measures, family history and SCZ-PRS, to identify any additive effects of considering both measures simultaneously. Covariates included sex, age, ancestry principal components, and genetic relatedness. False discovery (FDR) rate correction was used to determine significance and derive adjusted p-values.

Our current results show that, for European ancestry youth, greater family history of psychosis was significantly associated with elevated SCZ-PRS (p= 0.0047; p-adjust= 0.019). Greater family history of psychosis was also significantly associated with CBCL Total Problems and the eight subscales for all ancestries. On the other hand, higher SCZ-PRS was nominally associated with lower total NIH-TB cognition scores in European ancestry youth only, but this did not survive correction (p=0.011; p-adjust= 0.055). There were no significant associations between SCZ-PRS and the CBCL subscales in African or Admixed American ancestry children. However, higher SCZ-PRS was nominally associated with the CBCL Anxious/Depressed (p=0.018; p-adjust= 0.058) and Rule Breaking subscale in European children (p=0.0066; padjust= 0.055). Lastly, a joint model of psychosis family history and SCZ-PRS suggested that that these operate as largely independent risk factors for cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems in youth. Results from this project will be presented in a research poster at the Society of Biological Psychiatry conference on May 11th.

SCZ-PRS associations with cognitive, behavioral and emotional deficits in youth were mainly observed in European ancestry youth. The lack of SCZ-PRS associations with CBCL & NIH-TB in African and Admixed American children could reflect lower PRS accuracy or limited predictive power of these antecedents in diverse ancestry. Future analyses will integrate social determinants of health and longitudinal assessments to help make sense of current findings. Additionally, the independent effects of family history and PRS in the joint model suggest that both of them offer unique insights and hence need to be considered in tandem for a holistic understanding of risk for SCZ.

Improving Public Health Surveillance and Communication for Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms in Washington State: A Pilot Study using Drone Technology

Investigators
Joey Teresi, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Tania M. Busch Isaksen, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Scott Meschke, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Gordon Holtgrieve, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Project summary
Our primary project goal was to assess the ability of remotely piloted drones to detect harmful algal blooms (HABs) in a smaller-scale freshwater lake. To accomplish this goal, our primary objective was to use two different drone platforms equipped with high-resolution cameras to capture aerial imagery of Echo Lake in Shoreline, King County, Washington over the peak bloom season. Color band manipulation of the drone imagery was leveraged to estimate levels of chlorophyll a鈥攖he photosynthetic pigment found in all algae and cyanobacteria鈥攁s a proxy for phytoplankton biomass at the lake surface. Higher chlorophyll a concentrations are typically associated with higher amounts of phytoplankton biomass and act as an indicator for a potential bloom. Using linear regression, we tested ten vegetation indices against lake water samples collected for chlorophyll a validation. Our primary measure of success was to generate statistically significant correlations from the linear regression models to understand this application鈥檚 predictive value and overall feasibility.

Our secondary project goal was to document the needs of local agencies managing HABs to inform the creation of a drone-based data collection protocol. To this end, our secondary objectives were to: identify protocol user needs through informal key informant interviews with public health and water resource management agencies that routinely deal with HAB monitoring and response activities; and to create a drone-based protocol document. The resulting guidance document highlights the challenges associated with drone-based monitoring methods and provides insights for a program鈥檚 successful implementation, including optimal environmental conditions and drone flight parameters. Our secondary measure of success was to collaborate with local and state agencies for iterative feedback on its completion and to disseminate this deliverable to applicable agencies.

Between July and October 2023, a total of 26 unique drone flights were conducted, with 28 water samples collected and analyzed in duplicate over seven sampling events. The best estimates of chlorophyll a variation were provided by the Color Index of Vegetation Extraction (CIVE) index (R2 = 0.45, p < 0.001). The CIVE index has been applied in previous remote sensing studies to approximate algal biomass in small inland lakes and allows a reasonable estimation of lake chlorophyll levels using a relatively inexpensive, user-friendly, and time efficient drone monitoring tool. By increasing the frequency of flights, these drone platforms can supplement HAB forecasting tools and represent an improvement over limited shoreline visual inspections. These findings suggest remote sensing capabilities will help freshwater resource managers better anticipate the development of HABs and more rapidly communicate this environmental public health risk. In addition, we have engaged with representatives from the Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology, King County, Snohomish County, and the City of Shoreline to understand their HAB monitoring needs and limitations on drone use. We documented information on the logistics, costs, training, and optimal flight operation conditions (i.e., weather conditions, flight altitude) for successful implementation. For instance, a balance between image resolution and camera field of view affecting image stitching, determined by flight altitude, must be considered when imaging lakes. To this end, we have generated a guidance document for local practitioners.

Public Health Camp: Public Health Educators and Practitioners Partnering to Strengthen and Expand the Workforce

Investigators
Jenna van Draanen, Departments of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing and Health Systems and Population Health
Shayla Holcomb, Public Health – Seattle & King County

Project summary
The Public Health Camp (PH Camp) was organized and hosted by Public Health Seattle & King County (PHSKC) over 3 Full days of immersed career-connected learning for local high school students. This project was supported by various teams in PHSKC, undergraduate student interns and partners, the 天美影视传媒 School of Public Health, Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS), Seattle Jobs Initiative, and Best Start for Kids. We pulled together a cross-divisional project team and carefully crafted curriculum and work-site tours held over 3 days in August 2023.

PH Camp aimed to develop an academic-to-practice pipeline with early engagement of high school students who may not otherwise be inclined to consider careers in public health. We created this program to help grow a Public Health Ambassador community, promote public health careers, and support youth within King County. Our goals for this program included:

• To provide underrepresented/underfunded youth with access to Public Health careers and open pathways to professions
• To highlight the diversity of jobs within Public Health
• To humanize the work and inspire with passion
• To meet people where they are

From March to July 1st, 2023, we disseminated information about our summer camp opportunity to local high school students. We participated in several local career and community fairs, also sharing with school career counselors, with an emphasis on South Seattle and South King County school districts, encouraging youth from all backgrounds to apply. Our entry process asked youth to complete a simple electronic form. We had a total of 52 individuals complete our interest form and all were invited to complete the enrollment process. In total, 31 participants enrolled and 27 completed the program.

A survey tool was used to gather feedback on the planning process from everyone involved and indicated that a strong majority of people 鈥榮trongly agreed鈥� or 鈥榓greed鈥� that meetings were facilitated effectively, each team member was involved in decision making, and that all necessary partners were included in the planning. A majority also 鈥榮trongly agreed鈥� or 鈥榓greed鈥� that PH Camp reduced barriers for attendees, that campers were engaged during camp, and that PH Camp was a successful event.

Pre and post participant surveys indicated that most participants (25/27) left camp extremely (n=17) or somewhat (n=8) interested in public health and very (n=15) or somewhat (n=8) likely to pursue a career in public health. Every participant reported learning something new, every participant reported that their expectations were met or exceeded, and all participants were extremely (19/26) or very (7/26) satisfied with Public Health camp. When asked what they learned, most of the comments were related to learning about the diversity of career options and the topics included in the field of public health, as one camper said, 鈥淚 learned about the plethora of jobs and opportunities in public health and what they do to keep our community safe!鈥�

In terms of constructive feedback, participants said that they would like to have more breaks during Public Health Camp and they would prefer to spread the content out over a longer time period (e.g., 5 days instead of 3 days). Some participants also found it difficult to stay engaged in the sessions that were longer (>45 minutes with no activities) or had fewer activities.

An Assessment of Caregiver and Provider Level Barriers to the Implementation of National Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Guidelines

Investigators
Patricia Pavlinac, Department of Global Health
Alison Wiyeh, Department of Epidemiology
Arjee Restar, Departments of Epidemiology and Health Systems and Population Health

Project summary
Sickle cell disease (SCD) presents a major public health burden in Kenya, with approximately 14,000 children born annually with the condition. These children frequently experience severe health challenges, including frequent hospitalizations, chronic complications that severely impact their quality of life and an elevated risk of mortality before age five. The Ministry of Health of Kenya published the 2020 National Guidelines for Control and Management of Sickle Cell Disease in July 2021, but the dissemination and adoption of these guidelines remains limited. Critical challenges include limited awareness of SCD in both the general population and the healthcare workforce, significant knowledge gaps among HCWs regarding SCD management and constraints in diagnostic capacity and drug availability. Financial barriers and insufficient insurance coverage further restrict access to essential SCD services, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

This study examines the knowledge and skill gaps among HCWs and caregivers in managing children with SCD by identifying and prioritizing the challenges they face in implementing Kenya鈥檚 national clinical guidelines for SCD. Focusing on Homa Bay and Migori counties鈥攖wo high-burden areas where our team also has close ties to key stakeholders鈥攖he study will provide a detailed assessment of the barriers and facilitators to effective guideline dissemination and adoption.

The study protocol was approved by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI): SERU No. 5161. Four Nominal Group Technique sessions were held in Migori and Homa Bay between 24th September and 27th October 2025 with healthcare workers, caregivers, and adolescents living with sickle cell disease. Sessions included both healthcare workers (n=6) and caregivers (n=6) in the same session (11 people per session in each of the two counties) to obtain multiple perspectives and reactions. The sessions focused on identifying and prioritizing barriers and facilitators to the dissemination and implementation of the 2020 national SCD guidelines and generating practical, actionable solutions to inform county- and national-level strategies.

From participants鈥� perspectives, the cost of care remains the most significant barrier to accessing SCD services. Drug shortages and limited diagnostic capacity persist across both counties. Patients and providers alike report a strong need for trained healthcare personnel, dedicated SCD clinics, integrated psychosocial support services and improved community awareness.

Participants highlighted the urgent need for multidisciplinary SCD care teams and better drug formulations to ease pill burden. Caregivers strongly advocated for SCD to be treated as a national priority, pointing to the HIV response as a model for coordinated, well-resourced care.

Participants recommended sustained NGT-style engagement forums to institutionalize caregiver and patient participation in SCD planning. Priorities in Homa Bay included targeted SCD training for healthcare workers and psychosocial awareness in schools, while caregivers in Migori emphasized the need for financial support mechanisms. These areas can be incorporated into future planning and stakeholder engagement.

The project highlighted key issues influencing the dissemination and implementation of the 2020 national sickle cell disease guidelines such as the cost of care, drug shortages, diagnostic gaps, knowledge and awareness gaps, limited psychosocial support and the absence of dedicated services. Participants also proposed solutions that included improving drug availability, increasing training for healthcare workers, strengthening psychosocial support, expanding screening, raising community awareness and creating dedicated SCD clinics. Together, these insights provide a clear roadmap for improving access, quality of care and outcomes for individuals living with SCD.

Incorporating Youth Perspectives to Improve Disaster Planning: Piloting Drone-Based Photovoice to Explore Cultural Assets

Investigators
Matias Korfmacher, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, Urban Design and Planning
Nicole Errett, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Daniel Abramson, Department of Urban Design and Planning
Resham Patel, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

Project summary
This project piloted the use of drone imagery and video as inputs for the photovoice methodology. Photovoice, a well-established participatory action research method that has been used in public health and other fields since the late 1990s, uses images collected by participants to encourage critical dialogues about community concerns and amplify their voices to reach decisionmakers. By developing a process for drone-based photovoice (DBP) to engage youth in a community exposed to a high risk of natural hazards, this project sought to explore the benefits that emergent drone technologies offer the photovoice method, to identify the kinds of community assets (places, spaces or sites that provide or facilitate an important function for the community) that support youth disaster resilience, as well as to communicate these youth perspectives to decisionmakers. In pursuing these aims, we intended that our findings would contribute to improving post-disaster psychosocial health outcomes by identifying and planning around the places, spaces, and structures that make youth feel at home in their community (often called place attachment).

Project activities began with participant recruitment (eight youth in total) and data collection instrument design throughout the summer and early fall of 2023. With participant feedback, we designed a protocol for identifying community assets important to youth and documenting them from a low-altitude aerial perspective. We then adapted questions from Oregon State University鈥檚 Coastal Community Assets Survey Instrument to select sites to sample in and around the community of Westport, Washington (an area that participants later began referring to as 鈥淪outh Beach鈥�). This adaptation anticipated future comparability with other communities and came out of discussions and collaborations through the Cascadia CoPes Hub. Based on the results from this site selection exercise and decisions in the field, we then documented 22 community assets. A majority of the cohort participated in a focus group discussion after viewing the compiled images and video, selecting three of the most important assets for a more in-depth discussion. We qualitatively coded the discussion鈥檚 transcript, identifying themes found across the assets related to their perceived importance. In addition, we included several evaluative questions about the use of drones in the process to further understand their strengths and weaknesses for photovoice.

On the process side, our findings suggest that DBP was effective at revealing spatial relationships between assets and the local geography, capturing the full scale of assets as could not be observed from the ground, providing additional details about the site that might not be visible at ground level, and providing a reference for change over time. Taken together, our findings suggest that a similar methodology may be useful in future community asset mapping projects, such as creating a community archive to document and assess change over time (particularly in hazard-prone areas).

When selecting and discussing important community assets, our participants consistently called the economic, cultural, and social cohesion functions that the assets provided. Furthermore, they frequently discussed that these assets were important because they contributed to their self-development and sense of autonomy. Having dense clusters of assets that could be accessed from school or home were especially important for participants given the difficulty that youth have with transportation in rural settings; participants called out transportation access and the lack of dedicated youth spaces as two gaps that affected their place attachments and therefore their long-term resilience to disruptions.

Our final aim 鈥� to provide guidance on incorporating youth perspectives into local disaster planning processes 鈥� resulted in recommendations that local planners leverage youth perspectives to identify new important assets, to explore additional dimensions of those already deemed important to the broader community, to align youth-specific needs with existing community planning to produce co-benefits, and to adapt DBP outputs for whole-community engagement. We saw this aim borne out through the creation of a geonarrative (an ESRI Storymap) co-produced with the cohort. Geonarratives combine narrative materials (e.g. text, images, and other multimedia content) with geospatial data and visualization techniques such as interactive maps or web apps; they are well-suited for complex spatial studies that incorporate numerous data types and center community perspectives. In this case, the geonarrative served as a framework for presentation to the Westport City Council in September 2024, where the youth shared a need for the development of a transit-accessible third-space (a social setting outside of school/work and home) to gather and build community. Westport City Council was receptive to this feedback, and suggested that there could be a future need for the youth cohort for outreach and planning around such a community center. Although this presentation closed out this project鈥檚 research activities, it also opened pathways for continued engagement with the community and with the youth participants.

A World Worth Living In: Exploring the Impact of Social Policies on Mental Health of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Individuals

Investigators
Sarah Porter, School of Social Work
Zeruiah Buchanan, Department of Epidemiology
Megan Moore, School of Social Work
Anne Massey, Department of Epidemiology
Kelsey M Conrick, School of Social Work
Taylor Riley, Department of Epidemiology

Project summary
The primary aim of this project was to explore and characterize state-level social policies that peers identify as directly influencing the mental health of individuals seeking peer support services. The project involved two key objectives: (1) reaching a consensus on a typology of the most significant policies affecting mental wellbeing and peer service provision, and (2) developing a pilot database of 1-2 specific policy areas that peers believe to have a substantial impact on the mental health of their service users.

We invited 30 peers to participate in a four-round survey in the initial phase. Participants were not required to complete all rounds, allowing flexibility for involvement in later stages. Our first aim identified three critical categories of policies: (1) those harming mental wellbeing (e.g., expanding involuntary interventions and criminalizing housing instability or substance use), (2) those protecting mental wellbeing (e.g., peer-respite homes and reducing community-based service costs), and (3) those influencing peer service provision (e.g., state funding for peer services and service availability). These findings underscore the need for policy engagement that prioritizes community-driven perspectives in mental health policymaking.

For the second aim, we developed a tool for peer support specialists based on the results from Aim 1 and feedback from community advisors. The tool offers standardized information on certification logistics, peer respite funding and state-specific health outcomes across the five states included in our study. This resource was designed to assist peer support specialists with activities such as grant writing, enabling them to access and compare key data points for their state and others.

Xin Cen | How Local DNA Sequence Patterns Influence the Mutation Rate in Escherichia coli

Antibiotic resistance is a major population health challenge because resistant bacteria can spread rapidly across hospitals, communities, and global populations, limiting the effectiveness of treatments that modern medicine relies on. My research addresses this challenge by investigating the biological processes that generate antibiotic resistance in the first place. This project examines how small, random changes in bacterial DNA leads to resistance against rifampicin, an antibiotic used to treat serious infections. While resistance is often discussed in clinical or epidemiological terms, it ultimately arises from rare mutations within growing bacterial populations. By studying how frequently specific mutations occur鈥攁nd why some occur more often than others鈥攎y work connects molecular biology with population-level health outcomes. Using many parallel bacterial populations and DNA sequencing, I measure how often individual DNA changes appear under identical conditions.

My findings suggest that the surrounding DNA sequence can strongly influence mutation rates, making certain sites more likely to generate resistance. This insight helps explain why resistance may emerge repeatedly and predictably in different populations exposed to the same antibiotic. Understanding the factors that shape mutation rates has important implications for population health. If resistance arises more readily at certain genetic sites, this knowledge can improve predictions of how quickly resistance will spread and inform strategies to slow its emergence. By clarifying the biological origins of antibiotic resistance, this research supports broader efforts in public health, medicine and policy to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and protect population health.

Suji Jang | From Personal to Proxy Agency: The Transformation of Control and Resource Direction During Functional Changes

My project directly aligns with the Population Health Initiative鈥檚 mission by reconstructing an interdisciplinary model of health that bridges the Digital Humanities, historical epidemiology and social behavioral theory. Utilizing the extensive longitudinal diaries of Joseph Svoboda (Ottoman Baghdad), I analyzed his detailed health entries alongside his daily social interactions and network activity. This creates a unique dataset for examining the social determinants of health in a pre-industrial context.

Beyond descriptive data, this project investigates the mechanisms of resilience. Applying Bandura鈥檚 social cognitive theory to historical content analysis, I track how patients navigate “retrospective functional decline.” My preliminary findings reveal that as physical capacity diminishes, agency does not disappear; rather, it transforms into “proxy agency,” where patients delegate control to social networks to secure survival.

This historical case study is vital for modern population health, particularly in a post-COVID world. It demonstrates that health resilience is not merely an individual physical trait but a collective social process. By quantifying how “proxy agency” functions as a survival mechanism during acute crises, this research underscores the necessity of integrating social capital and community support systems into holistic public health strategies. It offers historical evidence that during periods of biological stress, the ability to mobilize a social network is as critical to population survival as clinical intervention.

Durva Patil | Functional Assembly of Split Protein Pairs via a Chemically Activated SpyLigation

My research aligns with the theme of population health by advancing technologies that improve the safety, precision, and scalability of next-generation biomedical interventions. As gene editing, engineered cell therapies, and synthetic biology platforms move closer to clinical translation, one of the central challenges is achieving reliable control over biological function without introducing unintended or irreversible consequences. Technologies that allow precise, externally triggered control of protein activity offer an important step toward safer therapeutic design, moving away from permanent gene therapies.

At a clinical scale, improved control over engineered proteins can reduce off-target effects, enhance treatment specificity and provide clinicians with greater temporal regulation over therapeutic activity. This level of control is most valuable in applications such as immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, and targeted gene regulation, where excessive or mistimed activation can lead to toxicity or diminished efficacy. By prioritizing safety and modularity, such platforms help bridge the gap between experimental innovation and real-world patient care.

From a population health perspective, technologies that are precise, programmable and broadly adaptable can increase the reliability and scalability of advanced therapies. More predictable systems reduce variability in patient outcomes and improve the feasibility of translating complex biological tools into standardized treatments. Ultimately, enabling safer and more controllable biomedical technologies supports equitable access to innovative therapies and contributes to improving health outcomes at scale across diverse patient populations.

Lauren Ellis | Utilizing Low-Gradient Magnetic Separation of Heterogenous Catalysts Comprised of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Liquid Phase Catalysis

My research aligns with the 天美影视传媒 Population Health Initiative鈥檚 vision of creating a world where all people can live healthier and more fulfilling lives by addressing environmental drivers of health through sustainable chemical engineering solutions. Plastic waste, fossil-intensive manufacturing and inefficient recycling systems contribute to pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation, all of which disproportionately affect community health outcomes. In the Rorrer lab, I investigate catalyst recoverability to enable scalable chemical recycling technologies of waste polyolefins into value-added hydrocarbons while reducing reliance on fossil resources. A major barrier to deploying these systems is coke accumulation on catalysts, which increases energy demand for regeneration, limiting the viability of low-carbon manufacturing pathways.

To address this challenge, I developed a magnetic separation imaging apparatus that is electrifiable as an alternative to filtration and centrifugation, both of which are mechanically intensive and contribute to process emissions. Because magnetic separation requires only electrical input, it is inherently compatible with renewable energy and supports the transition to cleaner industrial infrastructure. By correlating coke deposition with measurable change, my research establishes a non-destructive diagnostic framework capable of reducing material loss and preventing metal release into the environment.

Beyond technological innovation, this work advances strategies that reduce plastic accumulation in ecosystems, which is an environmental challenge that first motivated my academic trajectory. By integrating reaction engineering and separations, this work reduces hazardous exposures, supports healthier environments for pollution-burdened communities and advances population health at a systems level.

Leah Jamaleddine | Investigating the Association Between Sex Differences and Left Atrial Epicardial Adipose Tissue Using High-Resolution CMR Imaging

This project aligns strongly with the theme of population health because it examines how biological sex, aging, and hormonal transitions contribute to differential cardiovascular risk at the population level. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent arrhythmia associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. Identifying structural and inflammatory contributors, such as left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (LA EAT), provides insight into mechanisms that may explain observed disparities in AF risk between men and women, particularly post-menopausal women.

Population health emphasizes understanding patterns of disease distribution and determinants across defined groups. This study investigates whether sex-specific differences in LA EAT volume, potentially influenced by hormonal changes during menopause, contribute to increased AF risk in women. By integrating advanced cardiac MRI phenotyping with demographic data, the project moves beyond individual-level pathology to evaluate biologically and socially relevant risk stratifiers that affect broader populations.

Importantly, EAT represents a modifiable cardiometabolic substrate linked to inflammation and atrial remodeling. If increased LA EAT volume is confirmed as a sex-associated risk marker, findings could inform targeted screening, risk stratification and preventive interventions for higher-risk populations, particularly aging women. Such strategies may reduce AF incidence, procedural burden (e.g., ablation) and downstream complications like stroke and heart failure.

By identifying mechanisms underlying sex-based disparities in AF, this research contributes to more equitable, precision-informed prevention approaches, which are core goals of population health.

Charlotte Hsu | Elucidating the Relationship Between Macrocycle MDCK Permeability and Phase I Metabolism

This research aligns with population health by addressing a fundamental barrier in drug development that affects whether promising therapies can ultimately reach patients. Macrocyclic peptides represent a growing class of therapeutics with potential applications in cancer, infectious disease and chronic conditions driven by intracellular protein-protein interactions. However, many drug candidates fail during development due to poor oral absorption or rapid metabolic degradation, limiting their clinical usefulness and increasing healthcare costs.

By investigating the relationship between membrane permeability and metabolic stability, this project contributes to a deeper understanding of how molecular properties influence a drug鈥檚 ability to be safely and effectively delivered in the body. Improving oral drug-like properties is particularly relevant to population health, as orally available medications are generally more accessible, affordable and easier to administer than injectable therapies. This can increase treatment adherence, reduce reliance on clinical settings and improve health equity across diverse populations.

The interdisciplinary nature of this work integrates principles from biochemistry, pharmacokinetics, analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences to address challenges that sit at the interface of basic science and public health impact. The findings from this research may inform the rational design of peptide-based therapeutics with improved stability and absorption, helping streamline drug development and reduce late-stage failure.

As an undergraduate researcher, I am contributing to foundational knowledge supporting the development of more effective and accessible therapies. By improving how drug candidates are designed and evaluated early in development, this research supports population health outcomes through safer, more reliable and more widely usable treatments.

Adarina Uthman, Basil Mayhan, Alastar Diem, Yonathan Dagnew | Student Experience of Structural Instability, University Support Systems, and Wellbeing

This research aligns with population health with its focus on how structural and institutional conditions influence mental well-being among the population of university students. Rather than focusing solely on individual psychological traits, this study assesses how systemic instability – financial strain, scheduling unpredictability, housing insecurity and intricate institutional processes – shapes anxiety, academic engagement and access to supportive resources.

Population health stresses the social and structural determinants that influence health outcomes across cohorts. University students represent a diverse cohort experiencing evolving socioeconomic pressures and institutional complexity. By synthesizing quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews this project identifies patterns of instability and assesses how institutional structures may either mitigate or exacerbate psychological stress.

More importantly, the study intentionally centers student perspectives for improving campus systems, highlighting potential structural interventions rather than individual-based coping strategies. Understanding how institutional environments influence mental health can inform policies that endorse stability, equity and accessible support services.

By situating student wellbeing within broader systemic contexts, this research contributes to interdisciplinary efforts to address mental health disparities and improve conditions that support thriving of educational communities.

Grace Jung | Implementation Barriers to Universal SEBMH Screening in Washington State Schools: Administrator Perspectives

In 2024, the Washington State Legislature directed the 天美影视传媒 School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training Center to conduct a landscape analysis on how universal social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health (SEBMH) screening data are collected and used in public schools. This work examines how universal SEBMH screening fits within multitiered systems of support and integrated student support frameworks, and it analyzes current statutes, school practices and implementation challenges. Universal SEBMH screening refers to the routine, proactive assessment of students鈥� social, emotional and behavioral strengths and risks to guide and identify students who may need additional services.

This project draws on that effort by analyzing listening session transcripts from the UW SMART Center to better understand how school- and district-level administrators experience the implementation of universal SEBMH screening in practice. Using qualitative content analysis, this study focuses on the concerns administrators raise and the recommendations they offer. Early patterns indicate recurring issues related to the need for additional counseling support for students, trauma-informed training, clinical support and stable district-level funding and infrastructure, as well as questions about data systems and policy alignment.

These challenges shape whether schools can provide consistent and equitable mental health support across communities, which makes this a population health issue rather than an individual one. By focusing on systems, policies and school capacity, this project connects education policy to youth mental health outcomes at scale and offers practical insight for strengthening sustainable and equitable school-based mental health supports across Washington State.

Victoria Lopez-Wilkerson | Equity in Emergency: Planning Community Resilience Hubs for Seattle鈥檚 Underserved Neighborhoods

My capstone project, Equity in Emergency: Planning Community Resilience Hubs for Seattle鈥檚 Underserved Neighborhoods, directly embodies the mission of population health by addressing the interconnected health and social determinants that shape well-being at the community level. Through my research question “How can Seattle map and design Community Resilience HUBs for multi-hazard risk neighborhoods?” I explore an innovative, systems-based approach to enhance health equity, resilience and disaster preparedness in communities that experience disproportionate vulnerabilities due to structural inequities.

Population health prioritizes the health outcomes of entire populations and emphasizes the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact those outcomes. In Seattle鈥檚 historically underserved neighborhoods, residents frequently face heightened exposure to hazards such as earthquakes, flooding and extreme heat, while also contending with barriers to essential services, healthcare access, and social support. My project integrates spatial analysis with community-centered design to identify where resilience hubs; localized resource centers offering emergency support, health services and social connectivity can most effectively reduce health disparities and improve collective capacity to respond to crises.

By centering historically marginalized voices and leveraging interdisciplinary methods from public health, urban planning and disaster management, this research not only identifies risk but also co-creates solutions that strengthen community health infrastructure. Ultimately, this work advances a population health framework by promoting equitable access to resources, fostering community resilience and addressing the upstream determinants that shape health outcomes across Seattle鈥檚 diverse neighborhoods.

Douglas Lin | EHR-JEPA: World Model of Health Trajectories

My research focuses on the construction of accurate digital twins for patient care. Such twins improve clinical outcomes by providing a sort of sandbox for clinicians to model the impact of different treatments on patient outcomes. Each twin representation generated by my model is customized for each patient, which enables significantly superior standards of care for patients that may have unique health challenges or rare conditions. JEPA models are unique in their ability to distill the most important features of a patient’s health from potentially unstructured input. They can thus make customized predictions for each patient, based on their unique health conditions and backgrounds.

JEPA models are also comparatively smaller than large language models, which allows them to potentially be hosted internally by hospitals. Locally hosting such models results in better control over sensitive patient information.

Widespread adoption of our model would enable population-wide improvement of healthcare outcomes through a better understanding of individual health backgrounds. Simple downstream fine-tuning tasks may also be able to extract more information from the learned digital twin representation, such as risk for re-hospitalization or hidden signs of diabetes and heart disease. A model that learns the dynamics of patient health could also detect signs that a doctor might miss within the vast amounts of data that describes someone’s health condition. This work lays the foundation for the creation of accurate digital twins with a JEPA style model that encodes the most important features of a patient’s health.

Haley Neumiller | Modeling Osteosarcoma Metastasis with 3D Fibrin

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent bone cancer affecting children and adolescents. Metastatic disease, which occurs when OS cells spread and form new tumors, is associated with five-year survival rates below 30%. OS places heavy emotional and financial burdens on patients and their families, often requiring intensive treatments such as surgeries and chemotherapies. Despite decades of care, survival rates have remained largely unchanged because the mechanisms driving OS metastasis are still poorly understood. Progress in understanding OS metastasis is limited by the widespread use of two-dimensional cell culture models. These models fail to replicate the physical and biochemical features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that influence tumor growth, drug resistance, and metastasis. Fibrin deposits are an early marker of poor prognosis, as blood clot formation can trap circulating tumor cells and facilitate spread. Anticoagulant drugs (warfarin) may improve patient survival by inhibiting fibrin formation, though testing this approach requires models that accurately mimic the TME.

This research addresses this gap by developing a tunable, three-dimensional (3D) fibrin hydrogel model. Utilizing this blood clot-like environment, we measure how OS cells survive and grow in different fibrin densities and examine how introducing warfarin with chemotherapy affects their response. Assessing cellular behavior and matrix properties reveals how the physical and biochemical features of the microenvironment shape OS progression and metastasis. By generating knowledge to inform more effective treatments and establishing a physiologically relevant 3D model, this work advances population health goals by supporting future efforts to improve survival for those affected by OS.

Hesham Katabi | IV-Safe: A Low-Cost Color-Changing Dressing for Early Detection of Peripheral IV Failure

Peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters are among the most widely used medical devices in the world, touching nearly every hospitalized patient, yet their high failure rate represents a persistent and largely preventable population health problem. Nearly half of all PIVs infiltrate, and the consequences鈥攖issue injury, infection risk, pain, prolonged hospitalization, additional procedures and increased healthcare costs鈥攁re not borne equally across populations. Neonates, older adults, and patients in under-resourced hospitals or low nurse-to-patient ratio settings are disproportionately affected because timely detection depends on frequent visual monitoring that is difficult to maintain in high-burden environments.

Our IV-Safe project directly addresses this gap by developing a low-cost, passive and scalable technology that shifts the burden of detection away from constant clinician surveillance and toward an automatic visual alert system embedded in standard care. By integrating mechanochromic and leakage-responsive sensing into a routine IV dressing, IV-Safe enables earlier recognition of infiltration at the point of care without requiring electricity, electronics or additional training, features that are critical for implementation in resource-limited settings. This work aligns with population health by prioritizing patient safety, reducing preventable harm, decreasing downstream healthcare utilization and promoting more equitable care delivery across diverse clinical environments. If successful, IV-Safe has the potential to improve outcomes for millions of patients annually while supporting overextended healthcare systems through a simple, affordable and widely deployable intervention.

Vanshika Sindhu | Spatial Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Pregnancy-Specific Responses to Influenza A Virus Infection

Pregnant individuals consistently experience more severe influenza outcomes, yet the biological basis for this disparity remains incompletely understood. This knowledge gap represents a critical population health challenge, as pregnancy-associated vulnerability contributes to preventable maternal morbidity, adverse birth outcomes and strain on healthcare systems during seasonal epidemics and pandemics.

My research addresses this disparity by investigating how pregnancy alters host responses to influenza infection at the tissue level. By identifying pregnancy-specific metabolic and lipid pathway disruptions in the lung, this work provides mechanistic insight into why respiratory viral infections can become disproportionately severe during pregnancy. Understanding these pathways is essential for improving risk prediction, guiding therapeutic development and informing vaccination and treatment strategies tailored to pregnant populations. Rather than treating pregnancy as a generalized risk factor, this research helps define the biological processes that underlie that risk.

This project reflects the core principles of the Population Health Initiative by focusing on a vulnerable population, integrating interdisciplinary approaches across virology, immunology, reproductive biology and metabolomics, and generating knowledge that can inform clinical and public health decision-making. Strengthening our understanding of pregnancy-specific disease mechanisms ultimately supports more equitable healthcare strategies and improves outcomes for both pregnant individuals and their infants at the population level.

Kenna Samples | The Role of ATG4A in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of people worldwide, with mainly sub-Saharan Africa, India, and the Caribbean bearing the burden of disease. Paradoxically, interventions and funding are most resourceful in North America, Europe, and the Middle East (Piel, 2024). Current treatment pathways either require lifelong hydroxyurea usage, which works by reactivating fetal hemoglobin (HbF), or curative gene therapies, which are widely inaccessible. Because the sickling of hemoglobin in red blood cells is caused by a mutation on 尾-globin gene that is upregulated after birth, finding novel pathways to reactivate HbF instead may improve anemia in SCD patients and increase accessible treatment options.

Our lab recently discovered that the loss of ATG4A, an autophagy protease, in human erythroid progenitors during the autophagy pathway results in the accumulation of fetal RNA binding proteins, LIN28B and IGF2BP1, and the reactivation of HbF. These findings suggest that targeting ATG4A and its increase in HbF production could have an effect on SCD.

My project aims to determine the contribution of Atg4a to SCD in vivo by crossing Atg4a-deficient mice with a murine model of SCD. Our results are anticipate that the loss of Atg4A will improve lower red blood cell counts, overall hemoglobin levels and vaso-occlusion from sickling. If erythroid-specific autophagy regulation is successful in mitigating SCD, it likely will reduce adverse events to other blood cells caused by hydroxyurea and expand the limited treatment options for patients with SCD, ultimately improving access and long-term health outcomes for populations shouldering the burden of disease.

Sophia Li | West Nile Virus Surveillance: Mosquito Abundance and Geographic Factors in Yakima County, Washington

West Nile Virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, and poses significant risks to outdoor workers, the elderly and immunocompromised populations. Yakima County experiences elevated WNV risks, due to a unique intersection of environmental conditions, agricultural land use and socioeconomic factors. WNV is a zoonotic disease, which spreads between birds, animals, humans and horses.

This project applied the One Health framework to West Nile Virus Surveillance to account for environmental, animal and human connections. Traps were set along the Yakima River where bird migration paths, fishing ponds and mosquito populations intersect. Within Yakima County, agriculture is the leading industry, and the region is disproportionately impacted by environmental health disparities.

The WNV Surveillance Program is a collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health and Yakima Health District, focused on filling surveillance gaps in rural areas with high occupational exposures and recreational activity. Farm workers in the region face high occupational exposures. As climate change and rising temperatures increase viral replication within female Culex mosquitoes, early detection and prevention remain critical to keep communities safe.

By linking environmental, entomologic, avian and human health data, this research supports timely public health messaging and resource allocation to Granger and Sunnyside. Advancing interdisciplinary and preventive approaches reduces the burden of WNV, strengthens public health preparedness and helps create healthier communities across interconnected ecological systems.

Jack Nims, Immashiya Tanko | Are we missing people with diabetes? Diagnostic accuracy of HbA1c vs. the oral glucose tolerance test in Africa

Our research aligns closely with the theme of population health by addressing gaps in diabetes detection at the population level in African settings, where the burden of disease is rising rapidly and health system resources are often limited. Diabetes is a major contributor to morbidity and premature mortality worldwide, and in Africa nearly half of affected individuals remain undiagnosed, increasing the risk of preventable complications and widening health inequities. Accurate, accessible, and scalable diagnostic strategies are therefore essential for improving population health outcomes.

This study evaluates the diagnostic performance of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the current reference standard, using a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in African adult populations. By synthesizing evidence across diverse settings, our research provides population-level estimates of sensitivity and specificity that are directly relevant to screening programs, surveillance efforts and national diagnostic guidelines. The findings highlight a critical trade-off between feasibility and accuracy: while HbA1c offers logistical advantages for large-scale screening, its limited sensitivity may lead to substantial under-diagnosis at the population level.

Importantly, this work situates diagnostic accuracy within broader population health considerations, including structural barriers to care, resource constraints and biological factors such as the high prevalence of haemoglobinopathies that may affect test performance. By identifying limitations of widely used diagnostic tools, our research informs evidence-based policy decisions and supports the development of context-appropriate strategies to improve early detection, reduce health disparities and strengthen diabetes prevention and management across populations.

Himathaarini Senthil | Improving Dendritic Cell Uptake of PLGA Nanoparticles Using PEI Surface Coating

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide, and immunotherapies that stimulate the immune system to target tumor cells offer a promising alternative to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. However, ensuring that dendritic cells efficiently uptake these immune stimulating drugs remains a significant challenge. Dendritic cells play a central role in activating T cells, which can then recognize and destroy tumor cells. Improving how these cells receive and process therapeutic signals could strengthen immune responses and lead to more effective treatments for large and diverse patient populations across the world.

My research in the Panyam Lab focuses on improving nanoparticle based cancer immunotherapies by enhancing drug uptake into dendritic cells. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles are commonly used as biodegradable drug carriers, but their uptake by dendritic cells can be limited. I am investigating whether coating PLGA nanoparticles with polyethylenimine (PEI), a positively charged polymer, can improve uptake through favorable electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged cell membrane.

The nanoparticles carry the TLR7/8 agonist imiquimod, an immune stimulating drug. By varying the amount of PEI, I study how surface charge affects uptake, drug loading and cytotoxicity. This work aims to identify an optimal balance between increased immune activation and human safety.

By improving the efficiency of immunotherapy delivery, this research could help reduce required drug dosages, minimize side effects, and lower treatment costs. Ultimately, these advances may contribute to more accessible and effective cancer treatments, reducing the overall burden of cancer on patients and healthcare systems worldwide.

Shaan Chetanwala | Investigating the Role of Age-Related Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Primary Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanobiology Utilizing a 3D-Engineered Tissue Model

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and age-related vascular dysfunction is a major contributor to this burden. My research investigates the behavior of aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), which play a critical role in maintaining vascular integrity and function. Dysregulation of these cells contributes to arterial stiffening, aneurysm formation and other pathologies that disproportionately affect aging populations. By developing three-dimensional collagen-based constructs containing ASMCs, I aim to model the structural and mechanical environment of the aortic wall more accurately than traditional two-dimensional systems allow.

This biomimetic platform enables longitudinal imaging of cell activity, morphology and contractile behavior within a physiologically relevant extracellular matrix. Understanding how ASMCs respond to their microenvironment provides insight into early cellular mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling and degeneration. Because vascular aging is influenced by both biological processes and broader demographic trends, identifying these mechanisms is essential for improving prevention and treatment strategies at the population level.

Population health emphasizes not only clinical care but also upstream determinants of disease burden. By advancing foundational knowledge of vascular cell behavior in aging, this research contributes to the long-term goal of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Improved mechanistic understanding may inform therapeutic development and ultimately support healthier aging across diverse populations.

Vishya Adipudi, Shripad Guntur | Developing a machine/deep learning MRI-based tool for disease quantification and monitoring in CNO

Children affected by rare diseases, including chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), suffer from years of diagnostic confusion and fragmented care, which exacerbates their pain and symptoms. Limited availability of pediatric subspecialty clinicians further compounds with existing disparities between socioeconomic status, geographic location, and race. Improving the timeliness and consistency of care to children with rare diseases should be a leading population health objective.

Patients seen through our program often travel to Seattle from rural locations throughout the WWAMI region because nearby community health systems do not provide access to subspecialty care. To reduce the barrier to care for patients with CNO and other rare diseases, our computational machine learning strategy will provide automated MRI-related diagnostic capabilities for evaluating the nature of the patient’s condition, resulting in improved and standardized disease evaluations without depending on expert practitioners who may not have resources in the respective health system. Enhancing access to expert-level diagnosis will allow for earlier and more effective identification of children with CNO.

We are also leveraging the integration of clinical and imaging datasets to create algorithms that can predict a favorable treatment response through a personalized medicine approach. Decreasing the amount of trial-and-error before reaching proper treatment will result in reduced suffering by patients and a reduction in total healthcare costs.

Our work is intended to address existing structural inefficiencies in rare disease management, improve equitable access to quality evaluation independent of a child’s geographic location and promote scalable, data-driven approaches to improve outcomes for children with rare diseases.

Laura Biassio | Agricultural Land and Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction for Flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Climate-related flooding is an escalating public health threat that disrupts the physical, social, and environmental systems on which communities depend. Flooding events damage critical infrastructure that range from water supply, sanitation, transportation, food systems and health services, creating cascading health risks that extend far beyond the floodwaters themselves. In the Taquari River Valley, the floods of 2024 caused widespread displacement, infrastructure failure and exposure to hazards such as waterborne disease, injury, food insecurity and mental health stress that will last a lifetime. These impacts fall most heavily on rural and low-capacity communities, making flood mitigation a critical strategy for protecting population health and preventing social breakdown.

My research demonstrates how environmental planning can operate as preventive public health policy, offering scalable strategies for flood-prone regions facing climate-related health challenges. By integrating agricultural landscapes into ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, it emphasizes interventions that reduce health harms before disasters occur, rather than relying solely on emergency response.

This project uses geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze flood hazard, land use, topography and riparian vegetation to identify locations where agroecological adaptations could reduce flood exposure for nearby populations. As mitigation strategies, they offer direct public health benefits as they aim to mitigate the general negative impacts of flooding events, which are known to be a long-term issue in the area. These feasible, nature-based land-use innovations make the valley more resilient, preventing avoidable harm and helping communities maintain stable, healthy living conditions even during extreme events.

Anna Fuss | Mathematical Models to Identify Mechanism and Potency of SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies

During the Covid-19 pandemic, antiviral drugs were critical in preventing hospitalizations and combatting viral spread. However, viral drugs were slow to reach clinical approval, being licensed a year after vaccines, limiting their efficacy and scope, and potentially leading to unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths nationwide. This issue is multifactorial; effective drugs were not tested efficiently, ineffective drugs were widely used despite lacking efficacy and clinical trials were performed on inappropriate, clinically ill, candidates, rather than patients at the start of infection.

By generating a mathematical model, we can streamline the drug development process, and fine tune the drugs entering clinical spaces, while expanding our understanding of drug function within our patients. This ensures that drugs are quickly available, are effective in targeting the virus of interest, and are accessible early during infection, and early during a growing pandemic. This has widespread implications for public health.

Cutting down on time to drug development, but improving the accuracy and efficiency with which we are able to optimize and test drugs, allows us to more proactively and rapidly combat future pandemics. Through this, we accept the reality of future pandemics, while preparing ourselves to respond more rapidly and protect human lives. This allows antiviral drugs to be more readily available, reduce hospitalizations and hopefully reduce the impact on pandemics on our communities.

Kyra Schwartz | Stigma and Intimate Partner Violence as Barriers to PrEP and Family Planning Usage in Kenya

HIV poses a profound threat to public health, especially in Eastern and Southern Africa. In 2024, the WHO estimated that over 650,000 people died from HIV-related causes and over 1,300,000 people acquired HIV infections. Of these new cases, 50 percent occurred in Africa, with a higher incidence among females than males. Kisumu, Kenya is particularly burdened by the HIV epidemic. Despite relatively widespread availability, Kisumu still has low uptake of HIV prevention services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), especially in young women and girls who are at high risk of acquiring HIV. Social factors can profoundly influence the effectiveness of medical interventions, yet they are often overlooked.

Our project investigates social barriers to PrEP and Family Planning (FP) initiation and adherence in young women and girls in Kisumu. We found that various forms of stigma and intimate partner violence (IPV) are the primary reasons cited for neglecting or discontinuing use, followed by fear, misinformation and lack of awareness. This informs future PrEP and FP design needs, as well as the development of local education and outreach programs for clinics and communities.

This work brings together knowledge and ideology from the health and social sciences to provide a foundation for holistically addressing disparate health crises. Our results underscore the significant influence that social factors exert on health outcomes and can inform future research and initiatives aimed at improving global health equity.

Efficacy Assessment of Deployment of Phone-Based Glucose Test Strips for Prediabetes Awareness

Investigators
Jason Hoffman, Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Lorena Alarcon Casas-Wright, Department of Medicine
Shwetak Patel, Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Project abstract
Prediabetes affects millions of Americans, yet over 80% of those with the condition are unaware of their status. Current screening methods are often cost-prohibitive or clinic-dependent, creating significant barriers to early detection and subsequent intervention. This project validates GlucoScreen-C, an ultra-low-cost, smartphone-based test strip that connects directly to a user鈥檚 smartphone, transforming the device into a high-accuracy medical reader without the need for standalone hardware.

In a new interdisciplinary collaboration between the UW Computer Science and UW Medicine鈥檚 Endocrinology Department, this pilot study will deploy GlucoScreen-C in an at-home model for follow up for some patients. By sending participants home with a set of test strips compatible with their smartphones, we aim to improve outcomes for individuals who do not traditionally visit physical clinics, effectively extending the reach of existing mobile screening efforts. This project addresses the population health pillars of human health and social equity by bringing essential screening to underserved and rural communities in Washington. The success of this deployment validation will provide the proof of efficacy needed to launch this technology as a scalable solution for population-level prediabetes awareness.

Evaluating Wildfire Threats to Drinking Water Systems in Yakima Valley to Inform Intervention Development and Mitigate Public Health Risks

Investigators
Katya Cherukumilli, Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
Susan Carpenter, Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
Catherine Karr, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Christine Loftus, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Jessica L. Black, Heritage University
Stephanie Hung, Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
Allison Sherris, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

Project abstract
Wildfires increasingly threaten drinking water quality across the U.S. by introducing heavy metals, nutrients, and volatile organic compounds through ash deposition, soil erosion and reduced natural filtration. In Washington State’s Yakima Valley, the 2024 Retreat and 2025 Wildcat fires burned over 60,000 acres near watersheds supplying drinking water to over 200,000 residents, yet their impact on water quality has not been studied. This region already faces elevated exposure to agricultural contaminants including nitrates and pesticides, creating the potential for compounding health risks鈥攑articularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children.

We propose to evaluate wildfire impacts on Yakima Valley’s drinking water. In Aim 1, we will assess changes in heavy metals, nutrients and water quality parameters pre- and post-fires by analyzing existing surface water quality datasets from USGS and Washington Department of Ecology, along with new field measurements of surface water, sediment, and soil across the Naches River watershed. In Aim 2, we will leverage EPA data and interview water utility operators to evaluate impacts of wildfires on the City of Yakima鈥檚 drinking water quality. In Aim 3, we will compare Aims 1 and 2 findings against federal and state regulatory standards to estimate residents’ potential contaminant exposure risk and inform mitigation strategies.

We will partner with Heritage University, a minority-serving educational institution, to engage local students in research and design of public materials for communicating results. Findings will fill a critical evidence gap and guide enhanced monitoring, treatment and intervention strategies for wildfire-impacted water systems.

Improving Access to Serious Cardiac Illness Care in the WWAMI Region: A Community-Engaged Mixed Methods Study

Investigators
Erin Blakeney, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics
Jill Steiner, Department of Medicine
WWAMI Voices Community Advisory Board
Salpy Pamboukian, Department of Medicine
James Sibley, Clinical Informatics Research Group
Warren Szewczyk, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics

Project abstract
The 天美影视传媒 (UW) is the largest provider of advanced therapies for serious cardiac illness (SCI; e.g., advanced heart failure (AHF), adult congenital heart disease (ACHD)) in the WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) and one of only two such centers. Because many SCI patients must travel long distances to Seattle for care, extended journeys that span days or even months are common. This creates a regional population鈥慼ealth challenge for patients and health systems alike.

In recognition of these challenges, in 2025, with Population Health Initiative Tier 1 support, we formed the 鈥淲WAMI Voices鈥� Community Advisory Board to foster community-engaged research and improve SCI care access, experience, and outcomes.

Our Tier 2 project builds on this partnership. Using mixed methods, we will evaluate the current SCI care referral process at UW from both administrative and patient/clinician perspectives. Our aims are to:

1. Assess key SCI referral process鈥� and patient鈥憃riented outcomes, including modifiable areas for improvement; and,
2. Characterize the SCI referral and orientation experience across inpatient and outpatient settings through policy and document review, followed by interviews with patients and clinicians.

These aims align with WWAMI Voices priorities, including supporting families during hospitalization and addressing geographic variation, as well as the Population Health pillars of human health and social and economic equity.

This will be WWAMI Voices鈥� first community鈥慹ngaged research project, yielding preliminary data for future work. Findings are expected to inform near鈥憈erm grants, broaden engagement with SCI patients and providers and support the co鈥慸evelopment of a referral鈥憃ptimization intervention.

Co-designing a culturally responsive vaccine communication intervention with caregivers and community-based organizations to increase childhood vaccine uptake among East African children

A portion of the funding for this award came via a partnership with the , which seeks to enhance the UW鈥檚 global engagement and reach.

Investigators
Michelle Shin, Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing
Ahmed Ali, Somali Health Board and Department of Global Health
Alyssa M Caucci, Neighborcare Health Administration
Najma Osman, Somali Health Board
Ramla Abdi, School of Public Health and Neighborcare
Aynalem Sisay, School of Nursing

Project abstract
Resurgence of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV)鈥攚ith 2025 marking the highest number of measles cases in 33 years and an ongoing outbreak in 2026鈥攑oses a significant population health threat in Washington. East African (EA) communities, including Somali, Eritrean, and Ethiopian populations, face disproportionately high risk due to low MMRV vaccination rates driven by misinformation and systemic barriers. Neighborcare, a community health clinic, and Dr. Shin have identified that EA patients under age two have 60鈥�69% lower odds of receiving at least one MMRV vaccine dose compared to peers. Providers and staff emphasized the need to collaborate with EA caregivers and community leaders 鈥渂eyond the clinic walls鈥� to address fears related to autism and concerns about gelatin in vaccines, but reported limited capacity to build meaningful partnerships.

To address these challenges, Neighborcare (CHC; Ms. Caucci), the Somali Health Board (CBO; Dr. Ali), and Dr. Shin propose a tripartite partnership to develop a community-informed intervention using Intervention Mapping. The project will:

1. Conduct a community-engaged needs assessment with a multi-level community advisory board (CAB) to identify determinants of MMRV vaccination among EA communities; and,
2. Co-design a theory-informed, culturally responsive vaccine communication intervention and implementation plan in collaboration with the CAB.

This project will generate two proofs-of-concept aligned with the Population Health pillars: (1) a community- and theory-informed intervention to increase MMRV vaccination (human health), and (2) a scalable CHC鈥揅BO鈥揳cademic partnership model that embeds culturally responsive strategies into clinical and community settings (social and economic equity). The work will provide preliminary data to support future large-scale trials evaluating the intervention鈥檚 effectiveness and real-world implementation, advancing health equity.