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.
Dr. Aakash Batra is a radiation oncologist at the Bellflower Medical Offices in the Downey service area. He is a graduate of the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center radiation oncology residency program.
He evaluates and treats many types of malignant and benign diseases with radiation therapy, with a special clinical focus on central nervous system tumors, gynecologic cancers, and stereotactic body radiation therapy for primary and metastatic tumors.
Dr. Batra has published ...
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.
A respiratory syncytial virus vaccine given to older adults remained highly effective at preventing severe illness over 2 RSV seasons, according to a Kaiser Permanente Southern California study. The study offers real-world evidence that the bivalent RSVpreF vaccine continued to protect adults 60 and older from RSV-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits well beyond the ...
When Chance Shipley was finishing high school in Southern California, baseball defined his future. A pitcher with a college scholarship, he was training for the transition to collegiate athletics when he became seriously ill during winter break in December 2019. He was vomiting, exhausted and noticed blood in his urine. At first, he said nothing. ...
A Kaiser Permanente study of nearly 8,000 men shows that in mid- to late 2024, mpox was far more common among men who have sex with men than previously thought. Individuals without symptoms accounted for most infections and likely played a prominent role in transmission, contrary to prior assumptions that people had to be symptomatic ...
Taking doxycycline after sex helped prevent chlamydia and syphilis, but its ability to prevent gonorrhea faded over time as drug‑resistant strains became more common, according to new research. The findings show both the benefits and limits of a prevention strategy now widely used by patients, clinicians, and public health programs to prevent sexually transmitted infection ...
A large study conducted within Kaiser Permanente Southern California found that people with type 2 diabetes who primarily received diabetes self-management education and support were more likely to achieve healthy blood sugar levels than those whose care focused mainly on physician visits. “For people living with type 2 diabetes, this study shows that actively participating ...
From inspiring patient stories to research that’s shaping the future of care, the latest IMPACT newsletter highlights the power of clinical trials and innovation across Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Read how a clinical trial helped a young pitcher return to baseball, learn how researchers are expanding access to sight-saving treatments, and meet the dedicated nurses helping patients navigate research with compassion and confidence.
You’ll also find new studies on mpox transmission, doxyPEP and sexually transmitted infections, diabetes self-management education, and restaurant portion sizes, along with highlights from the 2025 Annual Report.
Investigators with the Division of Epidemiologic Research apply rigorous research methods to address important health questions that have the potential to change clinical practice and health care delivery. The division’s research portfolio spans the care continuum, from etiology and prevention to survivorship and quality of life.
Division investigators have expertise in traditional epidemiologic studies, post-marketing safety and effectiveness studies, and outcomes research. Current research areas include cancer, cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, diabetes, infectious disease, molecular epidemiology, orthopedics and bone health, perinatal health, pharmacoepidemiology, and vaccines.