The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and society at large. We seek to understand the determinants of illness and well-being and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. DOR’s 600-plus staff is currently working on more than 580 epidemiological and health services research projects. Read our story or watch our video of how it all began and learn even more from our interactive anniversary timeline.
Recently presented: Clinicians and researchers work together on hypertension study
Division of Research investigators recently assisted physician Marc Jaffe, MD, with presentation of the results from an observational study he led with fellow clinician Joseph D. Young, MD. The study showed that Kaiser Permanente Northern California nearly doubled the rate of blood…
Routinely Assessed Measures of Blood Sugar and Body Weight may be Good Indicators of Risk for Developing Diabetes During Pregnancy
A woman’s risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy can be identified up to seven years before she becomes pregnant based on routinely assessed measures of blood sugar and body weight, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the online…
Health surveillance tool: Study’s first results say stroke rate down, with uptick among younger adults
As chair of the Surveillance Group of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Steve Sidney, MD, is on the front lines of efforts to measure cardiovascular disease across the country. The rate of ischemic stroke among 11…
Presented at heart association conference: Ethnic group stroke rate trends show marked differences
Steve Sidney, MD, at left and Noelle Blick, center, coached Preety Kalra, PhD, on how to improve the study presentation she was to give to the American Heart Association's 51st Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Conference. Her results earned her…
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Names Selby First Executive Director
Veteran Public Health Expert to Lead Patient-Focused Outcomes Research WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) announced today the selection of Dr. Joe V. Selby, M.D., M.P.H., as its first executive director. PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization…
Parental Exposure to BPA During Pregnancy Associated with Decreased Birth Weight in Offspring
OAKLAND Calif. — Parental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy is associated with decreased birth weight of offspring, compared with offspring from families without parental BPA exposure in the workplace, according to Kaiser Permanente researchers. The observational study is published…
Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes May Prevent Diabetes by Reducing Pregnancy Weight Retention and Helping Overweight Women Lose Weight
OAKLAND, Calif., -- In women with gestational diabetes, a lifestyle intervention, including modified diet and physical activity that starts during pregnancy and continues postpartum is feasible and may prevent diabetes by reducing pregnancy weight retention and help overweight women lose…
Autism registry is first Division project funded by new national mental health research network
A registry to advance research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) will be the first Division of Research project supported by the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN), a multi-partner effort funded by a $10.5 million federal grant aimed at speeding up…
Blue Sky: Kaiser Permanente holds first symposium exploring future of autism research
Researchers from around the country gathered in San Francisco in early March to share information on the current state of autism research, highlight knowledge gaps and identify priority autism research topics that Kaiser Permanente may be uniquely positioned to investigate.…
Elderly Diabetes Patients with Very Low Glucose Levels Have Slightly Increased Risk of Death
A new study of older diabetes patients has found that well-controlled blood sugar levels were associated with a lower risk of major complications such as heart attacks, amputation and kidney disease, but the very lowest blood sugar levels were associated…
