News & Events Page

September 14, 2026

New and Renewed NIH Funding Strengthens UW Epidemiology Research

Alison Fohner, Nicholas L. Smith and Sara Lindström have secured new awards or competing renewals, supporting research spanning dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer genetics and more. These awards reflect the breadth and impact of research taking place across UW Epidemiology and the continued leadership of our faculty in advancing population health through innovative epidemiologic research. Alison…

August 26, 2026

Rare Gene Mutations Linked to Risk Across Multiple Cancer Types

Most people who learn they carry a mutation in the BRCA2 gene think of it as a breast and ovarian cancer gene. Angelina Jolie’s 2013 public disclosure of her own BRCA mutation and her decision to undergo a preventive mastectomy increased public awareness, but it also fixed the gene in the popular imagination as a…

July 13, 2026

UW Students Join Seattle’s World Cup Public Health Response

For six weeks this summer, Seattle was a World Cup city. More than 750,000 visitors passed through the region to watch matches, filling stadiums, restaurants, and transit systems well beyond their usual capacity. It was also, without most fans ever noticing, a test of Seattle’s public health infrastructure. Earlier this month, the University of Washington podcast Health…

April 27, 2026

Meet the 2026 Epi Husky 100 Winners

Congratulations to our 2026 Husky 100 honorees, Marin Strong and Miguel Paredes! The Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students who are making the most of their time at the UW. We are proud to celebrate two outstanding people at Epi who embody the department’s commitment to research, education, and service in the…

March 4, 2026

A Changing Picture of Teen Sexuality Puts UW Study on JAH’s Distinguished Dozen

Teenage sexuality in the United States is shifting. A study by University of Washington Department of Epidemiology PhD candidate Kendall Lawley and colleagues at UW and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) titled “Trends in Sex of Sex Partners and Sexual Identity Among US Adolescents, 2015–2021,” (CDC) tracks the shifts in both sexual identity and sexual behavior among American high schoolers….

January 20, 2026

Can Redeveloping Vacant Land Reduce Neighborhood Violence?

In many cities, vacant lots are part of the everyday landscape. For people living nearby, these spaces can symbolize neglect and raise real concerns about safety. A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) examines what happens when vacant lots are redeveloped—and whether that change affects violence in nearby neighborhoods. The study was…

December 9, 2025

Would You Use a Digital Vaccine Record? Here’s What Washingtonians Decided

When Washington State launched its digital vaccine verification tool, WA Verify, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was designed to make sharing proof of vaccination faster and more convenient. But how did Washington residents actually feel about using it, and what shaped their willingness to adopt digital public health tools? A new study collaboration between the University of Washington Department of Epidemiology and the…

May 27, 2025

Using AI as a tool for Reducing the Clinical Burden in Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa report just one oncologist per 3,000 cancer patients, a stark contrast to the United States, where the ratio is closer to 1 per 300 in urban centers, and 1 per 1,000 patients in rural areas. These disparities reflect the limited clinical capacity available to meet the region’s growing cancer burden….

May 21, 2025

Educators offer strategies for implementing weight-inclusive approach in dietetics training

A new paper published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, co-authored by University of Washington Department of Epidemiology faculty member Cristen L. Harris, offers practical strategies for program directors and educators to use as a framework for incorporating weight-inclusive approaches into their dietetics education programs. These recommendations follow another paper Harris co-authored in August 2024, which presents the case for moving…

April 7, 2025

Colorectal Cancer and Gut Microbiome: How Fusobacterium nucleatum May be Involved in Disease Progression

The human body harbors trillions of microbes that are responsible for a myriad of essential functions, known as the microbiome. The bacteria that make up the microbiome can be beneficial, aiding digestion, supporting immune systems, and influencing gut, heart, and brain health. However, some bacteria can be harmful and contribute to disease. A recent study…