Americans are using more prescription drugs than ever. Consequently, they’re coping with more side effects, drug interactions, and costs, especially if they’re using multiple medications. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) scientists are on the forefront of answering questions about these concerns. We’re studying the beneficial and harmful effects of medications in real-world settings, and innovating better ways to manage and monitor drug use.
The institute contributes to national initiatives to monitor medication safety as well as providing information to help doctors and patients weigh the risks and benefits of various prescription drugs.
Funders of KPWHRI medication use and patient safety research include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and other sources. A few projects include:
Hansen C, Andrade SE, Freiman H, Dublin S, Haffenreffer K, Cooper WO, Cheetham TC, Toh S, Li DK, Raebel MA, Kuntz JL, Perrin N, Rosales AG, Carter S, Pawloski PA, Maloney EM, Graham DJ, Sahin L, Scott PE, Yap J, Davis R. Trimethoprim-sulfonamide use during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital anomalies. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2015 Nov 24. doi: 10.1002/pds.3919. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Von Korff M, Dublin S, Walker RL, Parchman M, Shortreed SM, Hansen RN, Saunders K. The impact of opioid risk reduction initiatives on high-dose opioid prescribing for chronic opioid therapy patients. J Pain. 2016 Jan;17(1):101-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.10.002. Epub 2015 Oct 22. PubMed
Miller CJ, Li M, Penfold RB, Lee AF, Smith EG, Nordberg SS, Osser DN, Bajor L, Zhang F, Bauer MS. The ascendancy of second-generation antipsychotics as frontline antimanic agents. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Oct 20. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Arterburn D, Wood GC, Theis MK, Westbrook EO, Anau J, Rukstalis M, Boscarino JA, Daar Z, Gerhard GS. Antipsychotic medications and extreme weight gain in two health systems. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2015 Sep 8. pii: S1871-403X(15)00126-X. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2015.08.012. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Dublin S, Walker RL, Gray SL, Hubbard RA, Anderson ML, Yu O, Crane PK, Larson EB. Prescription opioids and risk of dementia or cognitive decline: a prospective cohort study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015 Aug;63(8):1519-26. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13562.
![]() Sascha Dublin, MD, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Andrea J. Cook, PhDSenior Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPHExecutive Director and Senior Investigator, KPWHRI; Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
![]() Jennifer C. Nelson, PhDDirector, Biostatistics; Senior Investigator |
![]() David E. Arterburn, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Susan M. Shortreed, PhDSenior Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Onchee Yu, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Rod L. Walker, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Robert D. Wellman, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Gaia Pocobelli, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Laura Harrington, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Jennifer F. Bobb, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Weiwei Zhu, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Maricela Cruz, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Brian D. Williamson, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Noorie Hyun, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Laurel Hansell, MA, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Jess Mogk, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Annie Piccorelli, PhDSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
Susan Heckbert, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit
David Siscovick, MD, MPH
UW Department of Medicine; UW Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit
Leslie Spangler, PhD
Amgen