About Our Program

As a research center embedded within Kaiser Permanente’s large and dynamic health care system, our investigators have a unique opportunity to apply scientific expertise to real-world clinical problems, translate findings into practice, and share what we learn with the broader community.

Featured Scientist

Dr. Nehaa Khadka
Nehaa Khadka, PhD, MPH
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Division of Epidemiologic Research
626-564-3438
Nehaa.Khadka@kp.org

Dr. Khadka is a maternal/child health epidemiologist and postdoctoral research fellow for the Department of Research & Evaluation. Her research interests include perinatal epidemiology, reproductive health, and health disparities.

While pursuing her doctorate degree at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Dr. Khadka evaluated oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery for pregnant and postpartum women attending antenatal clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to her ...

Featured Video

Research showing value of exercise before COVID-19 diagnosis earns special recognition

Being active can lower your risk of getting seriously ill with COVID, regardless of your race or the chronic conditions you may have, according to research published last year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Kaiser Permanente Southern California findings were important, impactful, and influential. As a result, the journal editors chose the research article, “Associations of Physical Inactivity and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Subgroups,” as the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023 Article of the Year.

News

Featured Image of News Story Titled: Diabetes medications vary in ability to reduce heart attacks and strokes

Diabetes medications vary in ability to reduce heart attacks and strokes

A new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers compared how well 4 different types of glucose-lowering medications reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke for patients with type 2 diabetes, providing important new information for these patients and their physicians. The study, published in JAMA Network Open in October, 2025, analyzed data collected on ...

Insomnia increases depression risk for breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer survivors face a high risk of major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, particularly if they also have insomnia, according to findings from a new study of Kaiser Permanente members. “We determined that the risk of major depression disorder was markedly higher in breast cancer survivors than in a matched group of ...

Some UTIs may be caused by contaminated meat

Nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Southern California could be due to E. coli strains transmitted through contaminated meat, according to a new study of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members. The research also found that those living in low-income neighborhoods were at increased risk of these infections. The study was published in ...

Physicians develop program to better control patient blood sugars

After COVID-19 hit in 2020, some physicians within Kaiser Permanente grew concerned that their patients with diabetes weren’t achieving healthy blood sugar control. Even when they came into the office for a visit, follow-up for getting labs to check on their hemoglobin A1c— a blood test that measures the average blood sugar level over the ...

Young cancer survivors face higher risk of chronic conditions

Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors face significantly higher risks of developing chronic medical conditions compared to their peers without cancer, a new study showed. The findings were published in Cancer, the journal of the American Cancer Society. “As cancer survival rates improve for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, their numbers are increasing,” said ...

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Featured Division

Biostatistics Research

Our biostatisticians provide expert guidance on working with real-world clinical data to investigators in all of our scientific divisions.

Investigators with the Division of Biostatistics Research collaborate closely with scientists from the department’s other scientific divisions, as well as physician researchers at medical centers across Kaiser Permanente Southern California. They provide expertise and guidance on study design, power and sample size calculations, data management, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical methodology.

Investigators from the division have expertise in study design and data analysis for observational studies and clinical trials to address study questions. Their expertise spans standard and modern methods that deal with complex and big data for population and causal inferences as well as disease prediction.

Each division has at least one dedicated collaborative biostatistician research scientist assigned to provide statistical guidance on its research studies. In addition, one of the collaborative biostatistician researcher scientists leads the Regional Research Statistical Support team, which supports medical center-based researchers.