Our Research
Science to serve one goal: Better health
Scientists at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) have a rare advantage: We work within a system that provides both care and coverage. With a 360-degree view of people’s everyday health experience over time, we discover what works best to serve Kaiser Permanente's mission: better health.
We collaborate closely with Kaiser Permanente Washington's medical staff and other providers — gaining from their perspectives on practical approaches to health care’s toughest problems. Together, we create a learning health care system — a place where research strengthens practice and practice strengthen research.
Scientists
Working in the public interest
Our faculty work on interdisciplinary research teams, conducting about 300 studies at any given time. They partner with affiliate researchers and others from academic institutions and health systems and share findings in the public domain to serve the public good.
See our KPWHRI researcher directory.
Funding sources
A broad base of support
Most of our support comes from federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health. We also contract with biomedical companies and receive grants from private foundations. About 5 percent of our budget comes from Kaiser Permanente Washington.
See our list of funders.
Research
Changing sitting habits shows meaningful impact
A new trial highlights a promising intervention to improve blood pressure in older adults.
Recent publications
Carter-Bawa L, Lafata JE, Slaven JE Jr, Monahan PO, Vielma AG, Wernli KJ, Brandzel S, Gao H, Rawl SM. Navigating shared decision-making in lung cancer screening: Insights into barriers, training, and referral propensity among clinicians. Patient Educ Couns. 2025 Nov;140:109303. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2025.109303. Epub 2025 Aug 8. PubMed
Diemert DJ, Graciaa DS, Zhang B, Rouphael NG, Branche AR, Martin TCS, Jackson LA, Presti RM, Kamidani S, Mahgoub SM, Babu TM, Magaret CA, Simon V, van Bakel H, Roberts PC, Beigel JH, Gilbert PB, Follmann D. Effect of Omicron BA.1-based compared to prototype booster mRNA vaccination on incidence of COVID-19 in the COVAIL trial. Vaccine. 2025;64:127718. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127718. Epub 2025 Sep 9. PubMed
Irving SA, Groom HC, Belongia EA, Crane B, Daley MF, Jackson LA, Kenigsberg TA, Kuckler L, Tseng HF, Williams JTB, Zerbo O, Naleway AL. Differences in influenza vaccination coverage by race and ethnicity across age groups in the Vaccine Safety Datalink, 2017-18 through 2022-23 influenza seasons. Vaccine. 2025;64:127667. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127667. Epub 2025 Sep 4. PubMed
Smith-Bindman R, Alber SA, Kwan ML, Pequeno P, Bolch WE, Bowles EJA, Greenlee RT, Stout NK, Weinmann S, Moy LM, Stewart C, Francisco M, Kofler C, Duncan JR, Ducore J, Mahendra M, Pole JD, Miglioretti DL. Medical imaging and pediatric and adolescent hematologic cancer risk. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(13):1269-1278. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502098. Epub 2025 Sep 17. PubMed
Collaborate with us
KPWHRI welcomes partnerships with researchers outside of Kaiser Permanente as well as Kaiser Permanente clinicians and researchers. Learn more about collaborating with us.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.