RSV vaccine protects older adults against severe illness
A new study by Kaiser Permanente has shown that the ABRYSVO respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is very effective in reducing emergency room visits and hospital stays due to RSV among older adults. “This Kaiser Permanente research demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of RSV vaccination among ...
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Study finds air pollution may increase risk of preterm birth
Exposure to a specific kind of air pollution, fine particulate matter, during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth, which can be dangerous for both the mother and ...
5 questions for … Dr. Javed Sheikh
Javed Sheikh, MD, was recently named 2024 Physician Researcher of the Year by the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Sheikh is the vice area research chair for the Los Angeles area on ...
Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine side-effect monitor bolsters safety
After COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, several smartphone-based reporting systems were developed to monitor vaccine side effects. They included V-safe from the Centers for Disease ...
Tackling a deadly regional disease: Valley fever
August 2, 2019Over the years, the Department of Research & Evaluation’s Division of Clinical Trials Research has tackled some of the most serious infectious diseases facing Americans, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Recently, the clinical trials team and epidemiologists targeted a deadly regional disease: Valley fever. Also known as coccidioidomycosis, Valley fever is a respiratory disease caused by ...Read more...Addressing the social needs of patients
August 2, 2019There is a growing awareness in the health care community that treating a patient’s medical symptoms may not be enough. Their social situation may be the true impediment to a cure. But how does a doctor house the homeless veteran, feed the hungry child, or end loneliness for the aging widower? Right now, investigators at Kaiser Permanente ...Read more...Researchers and physicians work together to stem the opioid crisis
August 2, 2019Research is integral to Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s robust program to reduce opioid prescriptions and overdoses. In fact, scientists in 2 of the Department of Research & Evaluation’s scientific divisions are separately pursuing active studies with multiple clinical partners. “We are working to provide evidence to … identify the best strategies to tackle this epidemic,” said ...Read more...Researchers seek to reduce heart disease at home and abroad
August 2, 2019Reducing heart disease and one of its major risk factors, high blood pressure, has long been a focus for Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Department of Research & Evaluation. The work currently in progress will affect lives locally and globally. Several recent studies delved into aspects of blood pressure because high blood pressure is a major risk ...Read more...Grant funds work to predict early-stage pancreatic cancer
August 1, 2019The National Institutes of Health has awarded Kaiser Permanente a grant to find a way to predict early-stage pancreatic cancer. Leading the project is principal investigator Bechien Wu, MD, MPH, a clinician investigator with the Department of Research & Evaluation and a gastroenterologist with the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. “Pancreatic cancer is the fourth ...Read more...Research: RSV infection can be deadlier than flu in adults
August 1, 2019In many ways, the initial symptoms of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are indistinguishable. But, research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases last month showed that RSV infection may be even more dangerous than the flu in older adults. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California study of hospitalized adults revealed that RSV infection, a highly contagious respiratory virus ...Read more...Mom’s diabetes could influence child’s risk of autism or ADHD
August 1, 2019Since publishing in JAMA about strong associations between a mother’s diabetes and autism in 2015, Anny Xiang, PhD, a researcher with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation, expanded that work to consider other neurological development disorders to find more nuances with the association, including one published just last month. A study published ...Read more...5 questions for Dr. Bobeck S. Modjtahedi
August 1, 2019Bobeck Modjtahedi, MD, is 1 of 4 physicians appointed to the 2018 Southern California Permanente Medical Group Clinician Investigator Program. The program gives clinician researchers protected time in their schedule to conduct innovative research and use what they learn to transform medical practice. His research involves creating models that can predict a patient’s risk of ...Read more...Use of cholesterol-lowering medications increasing
July 29, 2019According to a study published in the journal Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, use of cholesterol-lowering statins increased within Kaiser Permanente Southern California after new treatment guidelines called for broader use of the medication to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. The study documented trends in the use of statin medications and statin dosages at Kaiser Permanente Southern ...Read more...Advancing Scientific Discoveries Through the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank
June 19, 2019Ed Ellison, MD, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Permanente Federation, LLC, highlights the value of the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank and the opportunity for Kaiser Permanente members, including employees and physicians, to contribute to important scientific discoveries that benefit all communities. To learn more visit: https://researchbank.kaiserpermanente.org/Read more...