Laura E. Ichikawa, MS

Biography

With more than 25 years at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI), Laura Ichikawa, MS, is known for her analytical skills, attention to detail regarding study design and data management, and knowledge in data visualization. Her experience includes observational studies, randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and multisite analyses.

Laura is primarily focused on cancer research and women’s health. She’s has been involved with the Statistical Coordinating Center for the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC), funded by the National Cancer Institute. She leads both data management activities and statistical analyses for the BCSC, where much of her work has been evaluating mammography performance for both screening and surveillance while also examining use of screening MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound. Laura also participated in collaborative research through the Cancer Research Network, including a widely publicized 2004 study that linked not having screening mammograms to late-stage breast cancer and, more recently, the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR) project focusing on colorectal cancer screening. She is excited to continue her work in cancer research, including in screening, treatment, surveillance, and survival.

Laura’s earlier research with retired KPWHRI Senior Investigator Delia Scholes, PhD, included studies examining bone loss associated with the injectable hormonal contraceptive Depo-Provera in 2002 and 2005 and oral contraceptives in 2011.

Laura is a member of the American Statistical Association and its Puget Sound chapter.

Research interests and experience

Biostatistics

Longitudinal data analysis
Cancer

Biostatistics; breast cancer
Women's Health

Biostatistics; hormonal contraception and bone density

Recent publications

Jeffery RW, Finch EA, Linde JA, Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Operskalski BH, Rohde P, Ichikawa LE. Does clinical depression affect the accuracy of self-reported height and weight in obese women? Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008;16(2):473-5. PubMed

Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Linde JA, Operskalski BH, Ichikawa L, Rohde P, Finch EA, Jeffery RW. Association between obesity and depression in middle-aged women. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2008;30(1):32-9. PubMed

Wetmore CM, Ichikawa L, Lacroix AZ, Ott SM, Scholes D. Association between caffeine intake and bone mass among young women: potential effect modification by depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use. Osteoporos Int. 2008;19(4):519-27. Epub 2007 Oct 9. PubMed

Buist DS, Ichikawa L, Prout MN, Yood MU, Field TS, Owusu C, Geiger AM, Quinn VP, Wei F, Silliman RA. Receipt of appropriate primary breast cancer therapy and adjuvant therapy are not associated with obesity in older women with access to health care. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25(23):3428-36. PubMed

Linde JA, Jeffery RW, Finch EA, Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Operskalski BH, Ichikawa L, Rohde P. Relation of body mass index to depression and weighing frequency in overweight women. Prev Med. 2007;45(1):75-9. Epub 2007 Mar 31. PubMed

Kerlikowske K, Ichikawa L, Miglioretti DL, Buist DS, Vacek PM, Smith-Bindman R, Yankaskas B, Carney PA, Ballard-Barbash R. Longitudinal measurement of clinical mammographic breast density to improve estimation of breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007;99(5):386-95. PubMed

Geller BM, Ichikawa LE, Buist DS, Sickles EA, Carney PA, Yankaskas BC, Dignan M, Kerlikowske K, Yabroff KR, Barlow W, Rosenberg RD. Improving the concordance of mammography assessment and management recommendations. Radiology. 2006;241(1):67-75. PubMed

Simon GE, Khandker RK, Ichikawa L, Operskalski BH. Recovery from depression predicts lower health services costs. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;67(8):1226-31. PubMed

Weaver DL, Rosenberg RD, Barlow WE, Ichikawa L, Carney PA, Kerlikowske K, Buist DS, Geller BM, Key CR, Maygarden SJ, Ballard-Barbash R. Pathologic findings from the breast cancer surveillance consortium. Cancer. 2006;106(4):732-42. PubMed

Mouchawar J, Taplin S, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE, Geiger AM, Weinmann S, Gilbert J, Manos MM, Yood MU. Late-stage breast cancer among women with recent negative screening mammography: do clinical encounters offer opportunity for earlier detection? J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2005;(35):39-46. PubMed