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

Scholes D, LaCroix AZ, Ichikawa LE, Barlow WE, Ott SM. Injectable hormone contraception and bone density: results from a prospective study. Epidemiology. 2002;13(5):581-7. PubMed

Taplin SH, Ichikawa L, Kerlikowske K, Ernster V, Rosenberg R, Yankaskas B, Carney P, Geller B, Urban N, Dignan M, Barlow WE, Ballard-Barbash R. Concordance of BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) assessments and management recommendations in screening mammography. Radiology. 2002;222:529-535. PubMed

Ott SM, Scholes D, LaCroix AZ, Ichikawa LE, Yoshida CK, Barlow WE. Effects of contraceptive use on bone biochemical markers in young women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(1):179-85. PubMed

LaCroix AZ, Ott SM, Ichikawa L, Scholes D, Barlow WE. Low-dose hydrochlorothiazide and preservation of bone mineral density in older adults. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133(7):516-26. PubMed

Civic D, Scholes D, Ichikawa L, LaCroix AZ, Yoshida CK, Ott SM, Barlow WE. Depressive symptoms in users and non-users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Contraception. 2000;61(6):385-90. PubMed

Scholes D, Lacroix AZ, Ott SM, Ichikawa LE, Barlow WE. Bone mineral density in women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;93(2):233-8. PubMed

Barlow WE, Ichikawa L, Rosner D, Izumi S. Analysis of case-cohort designs. J Clin Epidemiol. 1999;52(12):1165-72. PubMed

Treiman GS, Schneider PA, Lawrence PF, Pevec WC, Bush RL, Ichikawa L. Does stent placement improve the results of ineffective or complicated iliac artery angioplasty? J Vasc Surg. 1998;28(1):104-12; discussion 113-4. PubMed

Scholes D, Stergachis A, Ichikawa LE, Heidrich FE, Holmes KK, Stamm WE. Vaginal douching as a risk factor for cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Obstet Gynecol. 1998;91(6):993-7. PubMed

Keech PM, Ichikawa L, Barlow W. A prospective study of contact lens complications in a managed care setting. Optom Vis Sci. 1996;73(10):653-8. PubMed