The University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (UW HPRC) collaborates with communities to conduct research on a broad range of health promotion topics, including healthy aging, cancer prevention and control, workplace health, physical activity, depression management, and brain health.
Investigators who lead a research project are known as principal investigators in the research community.
You will find a selection of our current projects organized by these categories:
- Older Adult Health Promotion
- Cancer Prevention & Control
- Workplace Wellness
- Additional Health Promotion Projects
Older Adult Health Promotion
Community Codesign to Integrate Low-Barrier, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Mental Health Care into Community-Based Social Services
Dates: Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Overview: Partner with Neighborhood House to integrate culturally responsive mental health care into community-based social services. Focused on Somali community members in King County, the project seeks to address gaps in mental health care accessibility and to reduce stigma through community-centered approaches, and to provide evidence for future expansion of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Funding: University of Washington Population Health Initiative, $25,000 and University of Washington ALACRITY Center, $50,000
Principal Investigator: Najma Mohamed and Lesley Steinman
Administration on Community Living (ACL) - Fall Prevention Innovation Lab
Dates: Sept 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2025
Overview: This project involves coordinating with partners at the ACL and National Council on Aging, participating in the Research Advisory Committee with experts in fall prevention research and practice, and facilitating the RFP process for sub-awardees. Responsibilities include providing guidance on sub-award development, assisting with falls prevention taxonomy development, and emphasizing equity and diversity in the application review criteria.
Funding: Administration on Community Living (ACL), $15,000
Principal Investigator: Marlana Kohn
Delivery of Enhance®Fitness Trial (DEFT)
Dates: Sept 30, 2021 – Sept 29, 2025
Overview: Reduce the barriers to the physical exercise people with arthritis need by evaluating the effectiveness of online delivery for Enhance®Fitness — a community-based, group exercise program for older adults. With all the information gathered throughout the project, the research team will work with their partners to create a toolkit for organizations to provide Enhance®Fitness online.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $1.2 million
Principal Investigator: Kushang Patel
Decision-Making in Alzheimer’s Research (DMAR)
Dates: Jun 1, 2020 – Mar 31, 2025
Overview: Conduct research to keep older adults with dementia involved in decision-making by better understanding their decision-making processes and creating a novel tool to identify preferences related to transitions in care.
Funding: National Institute on Aging, $3.3 million
Principal Investigator: Anne Turner
PEARLS Equity: Expanding Access to Depression Care for Underserved Older Adults
Dates: Sept 30, 2019 – Sept 29, 2025
Overview: Expand the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) with underserved populations by partnering with organizations that are already serving and doing work with these communities. The ultimate goal is to help provide equitable access to depression care. Priority populations for the study include older adults who are experiencing poverty, are community members of color, have limited-English proficiency, and/or live in rural areas.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately $1.5 million
Principal Investigator: Mark Snowden
Enhance®Fitness Dissemination
Dates: Ongoing
Overview: Partner with Sound Generations to disseminate and evaluate Enhance®Fitness, an evidence-based physical activity program for older adults.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Principal Investigator: Marlana Kohn
PEARLS Dissemination
Dates: Ongoing
Overview: Collaborate with local, state, and national partners to disseminate the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to improve late-life depression.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Principal Investigator: Lesley Steinman
Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) Dissemination
Dates: Ongoing
Overview: Disseminate the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), an instrument to measure physical activity among older adults.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Principal Investigator: Kristen Hammerback
Cancer Prevention & Control
Care-Coordination for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes (CARE-HCS)
Dates: May 10, 2023 – Feb 29, 2028
Overview: Address roadblocks to cancer genomic testing by revising and evaluating two population management interventions: web resources and personalized outreach. Each intervention will be tested within a vertically integrated health system and a federally qualified health center. This project will help provide clinicians with essential data and tools to address gaps in post-testing quality and patient safety, further advancing preventive genomic medicine.
Funding: National Human Genome Research Institute, $4,430,000
Principal Investigator: Sarah Knerr
Implementation Studio
Dates: Mar 1, 2023 – Feb 29, 2025
Overview: Examine methods to increase cancer screening among limited English-proficient populations by building the capacity of community health workers in community-based organizations to select, adapt, and implement evidence-based interventions for cancer prevention and control.
Funding: Andy Hill CARE Fund, $250,000
Principal Investigator: Linda Ko
Evaluation & Technical Assistance for Washington State’s Cancer Programs
Dates: Jun 30, 2022 – Jun 29, 2025
Overview: Provide evaluation and implementation technical assistance to Washington State Department of Health in support of the Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program, along with the Washington Comprehensive Cancer Control Program’s HPV, colorectal cancer, tobacco cessation, and community health worker activities. Support health system partners’ implementation of evidence-based interventions to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening.
Funding: Washington State Department of Health (DOH), $1,546,655
Principal Investigator: Peggy Hannon
Validity & Reliability of the Redesigned National Health Interview Survey
Dates: Sept 30, 2020 – Sept 29, 2025
Overview: Support cancer screening efforts by testing the validity and reliability of cancer screening questions that allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to measure the nation’s progress toward screening goals for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers. During this study, researchers will evaluate current cancer screening history questions in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey. Because there is a high level of evidence that timely and appropriate cancer screening reduces morbidity and mortality from some cancers, knowing whether national screening goals are being met could help save lives by helping the government redirect resources that would increase screening in promising populations.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $1.8 million
Principal Investigator: Larry Kessler
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Workplace Wellness
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Partnering with Latino-Owned Businesses to Advance Health Equity through Cancer Prevention and Control
Dates: Apr 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2024
Overview: Identify small Latino businesses’ key barriers and facilitators to adopting and implementing cancer prevention and screening interventions using mixed methods, and adapt, and pilot-test Connect to Wellness toolkits with Latino-owned businesses in collaboration with community partners including Latino business owners and employees.
Funding: Fred Hutchinson, University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium, $152,331
Principal Investigator: Barbara Baquero
Healthy Worksite Summit
Dates: Ongoing
Overview: Provide training and networking opportunities to promote worksite health in Washington state.
Funding: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Principal Investigator: Kristen Hammerback
Additional Health Promotion Projects
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QUIT Project
Dates: Dec 1, 2021 – Jul 31, 2025
Overview: Refine and beta-test a nicotine metabolite ratio-informed pharmacologic intervention to optimize design and participation within a tobacco cessation program, 2) Conduct a single-arm pilot trial assessing the acceptability and feasibility of the refined intervention, and 3) Examine factors which impede or facilitate implementation of the intervention within the Alaska Native tribal health system.
Funding: Native American Research Centers for Health Program, National Institutes of Health, $1,399,742
Principal investigator: Jeff Harris
Evaluation of Pierce County Local Impact Network (LIN) Programs
Dates: Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2026
Overview: Evaluate the strength of the community Piece County Local Impact Network and oral health intervention projects. The goal is to measure the effect of the interventions and improvements in oral health and oral health equity in Pierce County, Washington. The Pierce County Local Impact Network is a collaborative community effort supported by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Centers for Excellence and the Arcora Foundation.
Funding: Arcora Foundation, $145,800
Principal Investigators: Marlana Kohn
Technical Support for Older Adult Health Promotion Programs in King County, Washington
Dates: Jul 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2024
Overview: Support evaluation of evidence-based programs provided by various local organizations in King County, Washington. This project is supported by the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL).
Funding: Sound Generations, $188,500
Principal Investigators: Marlana Kohn
ReOpening Schools Safely and Educating Youth (ROSSEY)
Dates: Apr 15, 2021 – Mar 31, 2025
Overview: Evaluate how effective COVID-19 testing, safety measures, and communications around COVID-19 can be at safely increasing in-person attendance for elementary schools, especially those serving Latino community members. This study may also contribute to vaccination efforts when a COVID-19 vaccine for youth and children is available.
Funding: National Institutes of Health (NIH), $4 million
Principal Investigators: Linda Ko (previously included Helen Chu)
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Can’t find something? Check out projects we have completed.