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 expertise 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 involved in 2 large, multisite National Cancer Institute-funded projects: the Statistical Coordinating Center for the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) and a colorectal research site for Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR). Much of her work with the BCSC 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. 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

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

Taplin SH, Barlow WE, Ulcickas-Yood M, Westbrook E, Geiger AM, Bischoff K, Ichikawa L. Re: Breast cancer screening comes full circle. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005;97(6):461. PubMed

Scholes D, LaCroix AZ, Ichikawa LE, Barlow WE, Ott SM. Change in bone mineral density among adolescent women using and discontinuing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraception. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159(2):139-44. PubMed

Yankaskas BC, Taplin SH, Ichikawa L, Geller BM, Rosenberg RD, Carney PA, Kerlikowske K, Ballard-Barbash R, Cutter GR, Barlow WE. Association between mammography timing and measures of screening performance in the United States. Radiology. 2005;234(2):363-73. PubMed

Taplin SH, Ichikawa L, Yood MU, Manos MM, Geiger AM, Weinmann S, Gilbert J, Mouchawar J, Leyden WA, Altaras R, Beverly RK, Casso D, Westbrook EO, Bischoff K, Zapka JG, Barlow WE. Reason for late-stage breast cancer: absence of screening or detection, or breakdown in follow-up? J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96(20):1518-27. PubMed

Taplin SH, Ichikawa L, Buist DS, Seger D, White E. Evaluating organized breast cancer screening implementation: the prevention of late-stage disease? Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004;13(2):225-34. PubMed