News
News stories and community announcements concerning members of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, as well as interviews.
Lorene Nelson & Stanford colleagues win UCB-Stanford Industrial Relation & Digital Health Research Award
February 14, 2022. Ying Lu, together with visiting scholar Ruben van Eijk and Tze Lai and Lu Tian of the Department of Biomedical Data Science and the Center for Innovative Study Design, plus Lorene Nelson of Epidemiology and the Center for Population Health Sciences [pictured here], have recently won an award from UC Berkeley-Stanford Industrial Relations & Digital Health Research Project Solicitations on their proposed project, "Integrating Real World Evidence from Concurrent Registries into ALS Clinical Trials." This award paves the way for software development and training for industry users.
Read more about the UCB and Stanford Digital Health Research Collaborative
Stanford pediatric arbovirologist Desiree LaBeaud’s quest to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases led to an unlikely culprit: plastic trash
February 9, 2022. "In 2021, Stanford pediatrician and arbovirologist Desiree LaBeaud and her colleagues launched the nonprofit organization HERI-Kenya to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in Kenya by cleaning up the plastic waste where the insects breed."
Patricia Rodriguez Epinosa's work with Promotoras de Salud Community of Practice recognized by Community Partnership Award
January 31, 2022. "Promotoras de Salud Community of Practice," a partnership developed by E&PH faculty researcher Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa from the ground up as part of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities study, has been selected for a Community Partnership Award. This achievement will be recognized at the Community Partnership Awards and Roland Prize Luncheon on March 4, 2022.
Abby C. King Awarded Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize
January 31, 2022. Dr. Abby C. King, Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health; Professor of Medicine, has been awarded the Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize. She is being celebrated for her commitment to health equity, access, and outcomes. Dr King will be honored at the Community Partnership Awards and Roland Prize Luncheon on March 4th.
Lisa Goldman Rosas receives SBM's Award for Health Engagement
January 13, 2022. Warm congratulations to Lisa Goldman Rosas for being honored with the Society of Behavioral Medicine's (SBM's) Jessie Gruman Award For Health Engagement! It is a tremendous achievement to be chosen for this prestigious national award, which recognizes outstanding work in, and commitment to, patient engagement and health equity.
Jade Benjamin-Chung named Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator
January 11, 2022. E&PH faculty researcher Jade Benjamin-Chung had been selected to join the second cohort of scientists to be named Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigators following a competition for individual awards. (The first competition for individual awards was held in 2016, for awards beginning 2017, and a competition for team-based awards was held in 2018.) The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator Program, open to faculty from Stanford University, UC San Francisco, and UC Berkeley, funds innovative, visionary research with the goal of building and sustaining an engaged, interactive, and collaborative community of researchers that spans across disciplines and across the three campuses to help solve critical challenges in biomedicine.
Column: The Theranos verdict won’t stop investors from pouring money into the next big fraud
January 3, 2022. E&PH faculty researcher John Ioannidis is featured in this column. To Dr. Ioannidis, Theranos's choice to develop its tech secretly presented a risk: “Stealth research creates total ambiguity about what evidence can be trusted in a mix of possibly brilliant ideas, aggressive corporate announcements, & mass media hype.”
Kids fare better with early use of diabetes technology
January 3, 2021. Setting children and teens up with the latest treatment devices shortly after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis benefits their health a year later, a Stanford study has shown. David Maahs is senior author of this study, published recently in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Knowledge Gaps, Challenges, and Opportunities in Health and Prevention Research for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: A Report From the 2021 National Institutes of Health Workshop
January 3, 2021. Research on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, & Pacific Islanders subgroups is urgently needed to eliminate disparities and promote health equity in these populations. Ann Hsing co-chaired the NHLBI/NIH workshop featured in this Annals of Internal Medicine article, and Latha Palaniappan also participated. Access the report
January 10, 2022. This research is featured in a news release authored by Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH), entitled "To foster health among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations, more research and funding is urgently needed, writes Faculty Fellow Ann Hsing." Read the release
Tracking the spread of tuberculosis in Brazilian prisons
December 16, 2021. Stanford infectious disease expert Jason Andrews has spent years studying the spread of tuberculosis in crowded Brazilian prisons and surrounding communities — an overlooked global health crisis.
New genetics tool helps guide dosages of tuberculosis drug
December 10, 2021. Jason Andrews & team have devised a way to quickly & reliably test a person's genetic predisposition for metabolizing TB drug isoniazid so the proper dose can be prescribed.
Diversity in genetic research key to predicting risk of high cholesterol
December 10, 2021. A Stanford study shows that using genomes from a diverse pool of people improves the ability to predict an individual’s risk of having high cholesterol. Themistocles (Tim) Assimes is featured.
Allison Kurian selected to serve as a Komen Scholar for 3 years
December 9, 2021. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Allison Kurian who, in honor of her accomplishments in breast cancer research and commitment to furthering Komen's mission, has been selected to serve as a Komen Scholar for a 3-year term starting April 1, 2022!
Whack-a-mole vaping policies do not protect youth, Stanford Medicine study shows
November 30, 2021. Flavored disposable e-cigarettes attractive to young users proliferated after the most recent round of FDA policy announcements, negating the policies’ intended effects, a Stanford study found. E&PH faculty researcher Bonnie Halpern-Felsher is senior author of this study and featured in this Stanford Medicine News release.
New Index Tracks State-Level Progress on Promoting Health and Well-Being of Older Americans
November 23, 2021. States in the US vary widely in how well they are adapting to their aging populations, according to a new Milbank Quarterly article that ranks states based on an index measuring societal aging. E&PH faculty reseaercher David Rehkopf is quoted.
E&PH Researchers Awarded an AIMI-HAI Partnership Grant
November 20, 2021. Congrats to PI Michelle Odden and co-PIs Abby King, Sherri Rose, and Jiajun Wu for their new AIMI-HAI Partnership Grant supporting their work on "Place Matters: The Streetscape Environment and Health among African Americans."
A Starbucks Employee Had Hepatitis A, and Now Customers Are Being Told to Get Vaccinated—Here's What to Know
November 22, 2021. "Hepatitis B and C are generally transmitted by bodily fluid, and these two conditions can result in chronic disease, including cancer," Mindie H. Nguyen, MD, said.
How to use food to boost your immune system
November 17, 2021. "Forget focusing on 'superfoods.' A large variety of foods are needed to provide the micronutrients the body needs to mount a robust cellular immune response, said Stanford School of Medicine nutrition scientist Christopher Gardner."
New online game teaches teens about vaping dangers
November 16, 2021. "Vaping devices are marketed in ways that appeal to teenagers," said Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medicine who studies teens' tobacco and marijuana use and helped develop the game.
Melissa Bondy is the 2021-22 President Elect for ACE
November 11, 2021. We are thrilled to announce that E&PH Chair Melissa Bondy has been elected to serve as the 2021-22 President-Elect for the American College of Epidemiology (ACE).
2021 ISP Star Award recipients announced
November 8, 2021. Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) Star Awards, including E&PH researchers Abby King, Mike Baiocchi, Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa, and Lisa Goldman Rosas and colleagues for their work on "The Stanford Our Voice Research Initiative: Citizen Science for Health Equity." This honor recognizes individuals and teams from the Stanford Medicine community who, through their extraordinary efforts, embody the strategic priorities of our Integrated Strategic Plan: value focused, digitally driven, and uniquely Stanford. By recognizing these important contributions, Stanford Medicine leadership hopes to further promote the ISP and accelerate its momentum.
Health-Enhancing Environments and Citizen Science Podcast | Abby King
November 5, 2021. In this BOOM podcast, Abby King explains what it can look like for an environment to foster movement, encourages simple queues and social support, and describes different forms of healthy movement.
Access the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or iTunes.
A Day to Remember: Olympic medalist Brooke Forde transitions beyond swimming
October 27, 2021. Epidemiology & Clinical Research graduate student and Olympic swimmer and medalist, Brooke Forde is interviewed in this Stanford News story.
Paul Fisher named a 2021 Bass University Fellows in Undergraduate Education
October 22, 2021. Congrats to Stanford E&PH faculty member Paul Fisher for being named 1 of 8 Bass University Fellows in Undergraduate Education Program, which recognizes faculty for extraordinary contributions to undergraduate education.
Prepare yourself for an avalanche of fake meat
October 21, 2021. "Christopher Gardner, a Stanford University nutrition scientist and vegan evangelist, says a dinner of lentil salad and three-bean soup beats any alt-protein."
‘Coming Out’ to Cancer: LGBTQIA+ Discrimination in the Health Care System
October 12, 2021. “It is important for all providers to be welcoming and affirming to LGBTQIA+ people.” E&PH faculty researcher MItchell Lunn is interviewed in this Cure Today news story about LGBTQIA+ discrimination in the healthcare system.
Executive Summary available for NIH Workshop on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health Research
March 30-April 1, 2021. "The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in partnership with eight other NIH institutes, convened a workshop on Identifying Research Opportunities for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AsA and NHPI) Health. The workshop [co-chaired by E&PH faculty member Ann Hsing] assembled national experts from multiple disciplines to review current research and identify knowledge gaps, potential barriers, and opportunities for prevention research to improve health equity for AsA and NHPI populations."
Anticipated spill from deteriorating Red Sea oil tanker threatens public health, Stanford-led study finds
October 11, 2021. An oil spill from the FSO Safer could increase cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations and disrupt access to food and water for millions of people, researchers predict. This Stanford Medicine News Center release features Benjamin Huynh and David Rehkopf.
Women with genetic mutations fare no worse with breast or ovarian cancer, study finds
October 1, 2021. Newly diagnosed breast or ovarian cancer patients who carry common cancer-associated mutations have similar or better short-term survival rates than those with no mutations, researchers report. E&PH faculty research Allison Kurian is featured.
A deadly fungal disease on the rise in the West has experts worried
September 15, 2021. Researchers haven’t pinned down exactly what’s behind the rise of Valley Fever, a deadly fungal disease. But one thing is nearly certain: Climate change plays a role. Stanford epidemiologist Julie Parsonnet is interviewed in this Grist news story.
Insulin resistance doubles risk of major depressive disorder, Stanford study finds
September 22, 2021. "About 1 in 3 American adults has insulin resistance, a silent time bomb that doubles their risk for serious depression, Stanford scientists have learned." Authors include Epidemiology & Clinical Research program graduate Kathleen Watson, and E&PH faculty researchers Julia Simard and Victor Henderson.
Michelle Odden awarded new R01
September 20, 2021. E&PH faculty researcher Michelle Odden (pictured here) was awarded a Multiple PI RO1 (R01HL151564) for "Mitochondrial health, cardiovascular risk, and blood pressure targets in hypertensive adults)," starting 9/1/21. Other PIs include Vasantha Jotwani (UCSF) and Greg Tranah (California Pacific Medical Center), and Co-Investigator James Zou (Biomedical Data Science).
Melissa Bondy appointed to new AACR Working Group
September 13, 2021. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announced the formation of its eighth and newest scientific working group, specifically dedicated to supporting cancer prevention research. The mission of the AACR Cancer Prevention Working Group (CPWG) is to establish cancer prevention as a global priority through innovative science, integration of the latest technologies, improved levels of funding, and delivery of effective public education and awareness strategies. E&PH Chair Melissa Bondy has been appointed a member of the AACR Cancer Prevention Working Group Steering Committee.
Why The World Should Be More Than A Bit Worried About India's Nipah Virus Outbreak
September 12, 2021. Nipah remains a concern, not just in India but for the entire planet. The WHO classifies it as a "virus of concern" for future epidemics because "each year it spills over from its animal reservoir into humans," says E&PH faculty researcher, Dr. Stephen Luby.
More Media Coverage:
Stanford researchers to improve LGBTQ+ health and representation
September 9, 2021. "The National Institutes of Health has awarded Stanford researchers Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, and Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD, $2.1 million in funding for the first year to recruit, retain, research and improve practices for representing LGBTQ+ people in the All of Us Research Program. The project is expected to last five years."
John Ioannidis awarded Albert Stuyvenberg Medal from ESCI and an honorary doctorate from University of Edinburgh
E&PH faculty member John Ioannidis was awarded the Albert Stuyvenberg Medal from the European Society for Clinical Investigation (logo pictured here) in its annual (2021) meeting, held June 9-11. The Medal is the highest honor of the society and recognizes life-long scientific achievement. Read more about Dr. Ioannidis
Dr Ioannidis was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the medical school at the University of Edinburgh during their virtual graduation ceremony on July 22nd. Access the acceptance speech video (after 12m 48s)
Valley of Hype: The culture that built Elizabeth Holmes
August 30, 2021. E&PH faculty member John Ioannidis is featured in Yahoo Finance’s first original documentary that "turns the page on the meteoric fall of Holmes and her blood-testing startup, Theranos."
Stelios Serghiou selected as a "Reviewer of the Year" by the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
September 7, 2021. Epidemiology & Clinical Research PhD alumnus, Stylianos (Stelios) Serghiou has been selected by the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (JCE) Editorial Board as a “Reviewer of the Year,” based on his constructive and helpful reviews which truly allowed the authors to improve their manuscripts' quality and readability. This award will be announced in the December 2021 issue of the journal.
Stanford Medicine introduces population health research to diverse cohort
August 31, 2021. "Under the new Advancing Health Equity and Diversity (AHEaD) program, the School of Medicine invited college students from across the country to spend the summer doing population health research, working one-on-one with faculty mentors."
Hoda S. Abdel Magid selected as a recipient of the inaugural Postdoc JEDI Champion Award
August 28, 2021. We are delighted to announce that E&PH Postdoctoral Fellow and E&PH JEDI committee member Hoda S. Abdel Magid has been selected as a recipient of the inaugural Postdoc JEDI Champion Award. These awards were created to recognize the essential work that postdoctoral scholars are engaged in toward advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at Stanford and beyond. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will be hosting an award ceremony on September 21st, during this year’s National Postdoc Appreciation Week.
Read more about Dr. Abdel Magid's JEDI research and activities
How Fermented Foods May Alter Your Microbiome and Improve Your Health
August 13, 2021. E&PH researcher Christopher Gardner is quoted in this New York Times story about how "Foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha increased the diversity of gut microbes and led to lower levels of inflammation."
Predictive model paired with case management reduced rate of readmitted hospital patients
August 11, 2021. A follow-up program for Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) patients discharged from the hospital was associated with reduced readmissions without increased mortality, new research by E&PH researchers Ben Marafino, Mike Baiocchi & colleagues in the journal BMJ suggests.
E&PH Researchers Approved for $4.2 Million in PCORI Research Funding for Study on Treating Obesity and Food Insecurity Among Latina women
July 27, 2021. A research team including members of the Stanford Department of Epidemiology & Population Health (E&PH) community and colleagues--PI Lisa Goldman Rosas (E&PH), Lan Xiao (E&PH), Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa (E&PH and OCE), Wei-ting Chen (OCE), and Christopher Gardner (DoM)--has been approved for a $4.2 million funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study "Vida Sana y Completa Trial: Treating obesity and food insecurity among Latina women."
Stanford researchers offer practical tips to mitigate harm from wildfire smoke
July 7, 2021. "Warnings of another severe wildfire season abound, as do efforts to reduce the risk of ignition. Yet few are taking precautions against the smoke. Stanford experts [including E&PH researcher Kari Nadeau] advise on contending with hazardous air quality."
A fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity and lowers inflammation, Stanford study finds
July 12, 2021. Stanford researchers, including E&PH researcher Christopher Gardner, discover that a 10-week diet high in fermented foods boosts microbiome diversity and improves immune responses. Access the Stanford Medicine News release
Other Media:
- Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) (July 19, 2021)
- Medical News Today (July 17, 2021)
Hoda S. Abdel Magid's SER DEI committee appointment has officially begun
E&PH postdoctoral research fellow Hoda S. Abdel Magid has officially started her appointment as one of three co-chairs of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee. She will serve alongside past SER president, Jay Kaufman. "The mission of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the Society for Epidemiologic Research is to foster the diversity of our membership and work towards the engagement of all members, from diverse backgrounds at all stages of their careers, in the Society’s activities, with the intent of enhancing discovery in public health."
Endocrine disrupting chemicals are an “under-appreciated” diabetes risk factor
July 19, 2021. In the U.S., Indigenous, Latinx, & Black people have a greater risk of developing diabetes, and of suffering complications from the disease. Some of these populations are also exposed more to endocrine disruptors from air pollution and other sources. E&PH faculty researcher Lisa Goldman Rosas is quoted.
Flint native is one of 10 college students nationwide selected for prestigious Stanford internship
July 6, 2021. "As a student who grew up on Flint’s northside, April LaGrone lived through the Flint water crisis, a public health disaster that received international attention and the community is still in the midst of recovering from. Now, she’s pursuing a career in public health as an epidemiologist and was one of only 10 college students in the country selected for the prestigious Stanford Population Health Summer Research Program this summer. It is part of Stanford’s AHEaD initiative, which is aimed at advancing health equity and diversity."
Managing type 1 diabetes: Voices of the underserved
July 26, 2021. "It's one thing to be aware that patients with type 1 diabetes in vulnerable communities often face hurdles to care. It's another to hear these patients' frustrations, in their own words.
That's what [E&PH researcher] David Maahs, MD, PhD, a Stanford Medicine professor of pediatrics, and his colleagues found when they moderated a series of 16 focus groups -- eight each in rural northern California and Florida -- to illuminate barriers to diabetes care and technology use among underserved communities in the United States."
An extra twist in the FDA’s Alzheimer’s decision: no limits on which patients can get the drug
June 7, 2021. E&PH faculty member Victor Henderson is interviewed in this STAT News piece about the FDA's broad approval of Aduhelm therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and the ramifications of that decision.
The 2021 President’s Awards for Excellence Through Diversity recognize a student, an associate dean, a professor and a Stanford Medicine program
June 9, 2021. Yvonne (Bonnie) Maldonado, MD, received a 2021 President’s Award for Excellence Through Diversity. Maldonado was honored “for championing diversity, inclusion and equity efforts across the university, including through her leadership of the Stanford Medicine Diversity Cabinet, Office of Faculty Development and Diversity and IDEAL Faculty Advisory Council.”
Chloe Su and Shalmali Bane receive 2021 Graduate Student Community Impact Awards
June 9, 2021. The Stanford Alumni Association recognizes outstanding graduate students with the Community Impact Award. These students have fostered a sense of belonging and inspired enthusiasm among fellow grad students, enhancing the Stanford community through their exemplary leadership of a student organization, creation of an event or program, or other unique campus contribution. Epidemiology & Population Health graduate students Chloe Su and Shalmali Bane were chosen as recipients of this year's awards.
Climate change linked to longer allergy season in Bay Area, Stanford study finds
June 17, 2021. E&PH faculty member Kari Nadeau is featured in this Stanford Medicine News release about a new Stanford study that has found air levels of pollen and mold spores in the San Francisco Bay Area are elevated for about two more months per year than in past decades, and higher temperatures are to blame.
5 Questions with Dr. Andrew Chang on Improving Heart Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
June 23, 2021. Epidemiology & Clinical Research MS Graduate Student, Andrew Chang, MD, shares his belief that we can be doing much more to support heart health in low- and middle-income countries in this Stanford Global Health news story.
They gave birth and love their children. And they want to remind you 'not all pregnant people are women.'
May 21, 2021. E&PH faculty member Juno Obedin-Maliver (pictured here), who specializes in the reproductive health care needs of sexual and gender minority people, is quoted in this USA Today news story.
E&PH Postdoc Titilola Falasinnu awarded NIH K01
May 17, 2021. Epidemiology & Population Health Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Titilola Falasinnu (pictured here) has been awarded a K01 award from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes for Health (NIH), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, for her research proposal, entitled "Characterization of Chronic Pain and its Biopsychosocial Mechanisms in Lupus using Electronic Health Records."
Stanford Medicine hosts first virtual week-long Health Matters event
May 17, 2021. "Stanford Medicine held its first virtual Health Matters, an annual week-long event run by Stanford Medicine designed to educate the public on advances in medicine and wellness, from May 10 to 15. All talks were open to the public, and medical experts covered topics including Asian-American health care, violent conflict, applying for medical school, among others." E&PH faculty member Latha Palaniappan (pictured here) highlighted the gaps in medical care for Asians and Asian Americans in a May 12 Health Matters talk.
Righting Decades of Wrong: Countering the impact of racism on health
May 2021. In the wake of decades of systemic racism that resulted in inequitable health care for racial and ethnic minorities, Stanford Medicine research and initiatives are underway to end that legacy. E&PH researcher Lisa Goldman Rosas discusses her work with the Food as Medicine initiative, which is testing whether better access to healthy foods, including fresh produce and leafy greens, can improve well-being and mitigate chronic disease.
Meet Carmen, your new trainer. She’s a virtual coach with a winning track record and bilingual advantage
May 2021. A recent JAMA Internal Medicine study by E&PH faculty member Abby C. King and colleagues is featured in this Stanford Medicine Magazine article about Carmen, a computer program that speaks Spanish and English, that seems to be a boon for sedentary people seeking to adopt healthier habits.
Grounded by Family: Stories of Indigenous Mixtec ancestors help med student persevere in college
May 2021. Epidemiology & Clinical Research graduate & now med student Gianna Nino-Tapias speaks to how stories of Indigenous Mixtec ancestors helped her persevere in college.
POT1 gene mutation predisposes to glioma and affects survival in a sex-specific manner
April 19, 2021. New from E&PH Chair Melissa Bondy & her Stanford Lab: this Cancer Research study shows that POT1, a gene known to be associated with risk of glioma, the most common type of malignant brain tumor, mediates its effects in a sex-specific manner. Access the Baylor Press Release. Access the Cancer Research study.
April 23, 2021 Update. We have received the fantastic news that a figure associated with this study and submitted by authors to be included as a cover for the May 15, 2021 issue of Cancer Research has been accepted!
May 17, 2021. This POT1 study is featured on the cover of the May 2021 issue of Cancer Research. Read more about the cover here.
Michelle Odden selected for 2020-21 Stanford Biosciences “Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award”
May 14, 2021. It is our great pleasure to announce that the Office of Graduate Education has selected Dr. Michelle Odden, Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Population Health (E&PH) and E&PH JEDI Committee Chair, for the 2020-21 Stanford Biosciences “Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award." This honor is given to faculty who make distinguished contributions towards enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion across the Stanford Biosciences.
Stanford researchers map how people in cities get a health boost from nature
May 10, 2021. "Your local city park may be improving your health, according to a new paper led by Stanford University researchers." Important research by E&PH faculty member Abby King & colleagues is featured.
Are Plant Milks Good for You?
May 10, 2021. E&PH researcher Christopher Gardner is quoted in this New York Times story, stating "that it’s important to focus on consuming whole foods, and not the processed versions. Eating whole soybeans, oat cereals and almonds is preferable to drinking their milks."
Higher levels of nitrate in drinking water linked to preterm birth, Stanford study finds
May 5, 2021. E&PH faculty researchers Gary Shaw, Mike Baiocchi, and Stephen Luby and Stanford colleagues are featured in this Stanford Medicine News release about a new study of 1.4 million California births that shows women exposed to higher levels of nitrate in drinking water were more likely to deliver very early.
Closing racial gaps in medical residencies could take decades
April 26, 2021. "A new collaborative study from Stanford emergency medicine physicians Christopher Bennett, MD, and Maame Yaa Yiadom, MD, offers insight into how the relative lack of Black and Latino medical residents has shown little improvement over time." Christopher Bennett, an MS Student in our Epidemiology & Clinical Research Program, is quoted in this article.
Study helps Latino children manage obesity over two years
April 29, 2021. A three-year trial of a multifaceted intervention for managing #obesity in low-income, Latino children showed promising results over two years. Thomas Robinson, the Irving Schulman, M.D., Endowed Professor in Child Health, and E&PH faculty member, led the study.
Stanford student judicial process called ‘overly punitive’ and ‘not educational’ in report to Faculty Senate
April 23, 2021. In a presentation to the Stanford Faculty Senate on Thursday, the Committee of 10, charged with reviewing the Student Judicial Charter, recommended how the process might be refocused on education and made more efficient. Chair of the Committee of 10, Marcia Stefanick, is quoted.
Stanford researchers use AI to empower environmental regulators
April 19, 2021. Monitoring environmental compliance is a particular challenge for governments in poor countries. A new machine learning approach that uses satellite imagery to pinpoint highly polluting brick kilns in Bangladesh could provide a low-cost solution. Senior study author and E&PH faculty member, Stephen Luby, is interviewed.
Five undergraduates awarded Barry Goldwater Scholarships
April 19, 2021. Tejas Athni, Biology and Physical Science undergraduate and one of our prospective Epidemiology & Clinical Research coterm students, recently received a Goldwater scholarship. These awards are designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.
As fermented foods rise in popularity, here's what experts say
March 24, 2021. Christopher Gardner discusses the popularity of fermented foods in this SFGate news story.
Technology equality gap for kids’ diabetes treatment is growing
March 24, 2021. As more children and teens with diabetes use technology to treat the disease, US kids of lower socioeconomic status are being increasingly left behind. David Maahs, professor of pediatrics and senior author of the study, is featured.
Stanford announces IDEAL Provostial Fellows appointments
March 15, 2021. Stanford Provost Persis Drell today announced the first cohort of IDEAL Provostial Fellows. Five early-career scholars in the study of race and ethnicity will join the Stanford campus community for three years beginning in fall 2021 as part of an effort to increase the university’s research and teaching related to race and ethnicity. The five scholars include: Catherine Duarte (pictured here), who will be joining our Department of Epidemiology & Population Health.
Read the full announcement from Stanford Today
John Ioannidis inducted as corresponding member in the Academy of sciences in Bologna
March 4, 2021. E&PH faculty member John Ioannidis was inducted as corresponding member in the Academy of Sciences in Bologna (Accademia delle Scienze). It is one of the oldest scientific academies in the world, established in 1690 and it had members like Galvani, Marconi, and Laura Bassi, the first female professor ever to get a salaried position at a university.
The induction ceremony took place on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at the 331th annual inauguration session. The headquarters are at a beautiful 16th century palazzo, the Palazzo Poggi, and the experience was a bit unusual: an empty room and everyone joining by zoom (pictured here)!
Small Doses: Kari Nadeau is transforming the treatment of food allergies, one morsel at a time
March 2021. E&PH faculty member Kari Nadeau's research on food allergy treatment was featured in a Stanford Magazine story.
‘An army of open science evangelists’: Professors launch Center for Open and REproducible Science
March 1, 2021. E&PH faculty member and associate dean of clinical and translational research, Steven Goodman, is featured in this Stanford Daily story. "According to Goodman, Stanford is one of the few leading the open science movement. Eventually, he hopes that the initiative influences science across the globe, with researchers consulting an 'Open by Design at Stanford' guide, changing the way science is done at Stanford, and beyond."
Western Wildfires Increased Asthma Attacks in 2020
March 3, 2021. Epidemiology & Clinical Research PhD alum, Christophe Tchakouté, now a 23andMe Biostatistician, wrote this blog post for the 23andMe Blog.
Melding Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms with Health Care and Policy to Combat Human Trafficking
February 24, 2021. This story features the amazing work being done by E&PH faculty member Mike Baiocchi and team in the Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab. The Lab conducts critical research through a collaboration among academics, health-care providers and frontline trafficking experts and prosecutors, using promising innovations in modern data science. It was just granted a $900,000 award from the Stanford King Center on Global Development.
A Prescription for Healthy Food to Reduce Hunger and Chronic Disease
February 16, 2021. "The Food for Health Equity Lab brings together epidemiologists, biostatisticians, physicians, and leaders from Stanford University, ALL IN Alameda County, the Community Health Center Network, Dig Deep Farms, Open Source Wellness, and the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition. As a team, they are working to generate evidence--about how nutritious food and fresh vegetables can reduce chronic disease--that community health centers can use to improve people’s nutrition, health, and well-being. They are one of six teams to receive start-up funding from Stanford Impact Labs for 2021-2023." This team includes E&PH faculty researchers Lisa Goldman Rosas, Mike Baiocchi, and Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa.
I’m 28 and I Don’t Know My Family History—Here’s How That Affects My Health
February 11, 2021. This Well + Good post discusses how knowing your family history can help doctors pinpoint whether you are at risk for certain health conditions that can run in families or be determined by genetics. Latha Palaniappan, E&PH faculty, provides comment.
Gene Screenings Hold Disease Clues, but Unexplained Anomalies Often Raise Fears
February 9, 2021. Stanford epidemiologist Allison Kurian's past and present research on genetic testing and breast cancer is featured in this KHN story.
Less is more? Focused genetic testing recommended for breast and ovarian cancers
February 10, 2021. "Homing in on about 20 key genes known to be associated with breast or ovarian cancer is likely to provide patients and their doctors with news they can use, according to a new study from Stanford Medicine and the University of Michigan." This Stanford Scope Blog post features new research by E&PH faculty member Allison Kurian and colleagues, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Ambiguous genetic test results can be unsettling: Worse, they can lead to needless surgeries
February 8, 2021. Stanford Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology & Population Health, Allison Kurian, is quoted in this Washington Post story.
Take heed: Turn to the experts to interpret pharmacogenetic tests
February 4, 2021. E&PH faculty member Latha Palaniappan and colleagues released a new study on "Variant Interpretation in Current Pharmacogenetic Testing" in the Journal of Personalized Medicine. Stanford Scope Blog featured this new research in a new post.
ALL IN Launches Food as Medicine Program at Life Long Medical Center
January 27, 2021. ALL IN Alameda County (ALL IN) has announced the most recent expansion of its Food as Medicine initiative with the February 1st, 2021 launch at Lifelong Medical Center (LLMC). The program will launch at Life Long Medical Center at Ashby, a community health center that services neighborhoods in Berkeley and North Oakland. This partnership builds upon the prior success of Food as Medicine at Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center and Native American Health Center. Congrats to E&PH faculty member Lisa Goldman Rosas for her efforts on this collaboration!
Data from twins suggests that gut bacteria are important in food allergies
January 22, 2021. A Stanford-led study of twins with and without food allergies has uncovered differences in the fecal bacteria of allergic and non-allergic individuals. E&PH faculty member Kari Nadeau is co-senior author of the study and is quoted in this Stanford Scope Blog post.
Is keto really better for weight loss? A new study takes a closer look at the diet.
January 21, 2021. This Washington Post piece discusses ketogenic diets and quotes Christopher Gardner, the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor and professor of medicine at Stanford Prevention Research Center.
Human Evolution Isn't Over Yet
November 9, 2020. Julie Parsonnet's research on human body temperature is featured in this Discover story. “We are not the same people that we were a hundred years ago.
Abby C. King receives the Alva Myrdal Guest Professorship Award
October 29, 2020. E&PH faculty member Abby C. King has been honored with the Alva Myrdal Guest Professorship Award from Mälardalen University in Sweden. This is a one-year award for which Dr. King will be (remotely) doing some mentoring, collaborative research development, and teaching. Alva Nyrdal is a prominent Swedish sociologist and diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982.
Leisure activity for dementia prevention: More work to be done
October 28, 2020. A recent editorial in Neurology written by our own Victor Henderson and colleague was published this week.
More media coverage:
Steve Goodman Elected to National Academy of Medicine
October 19, 2020. It is with great pleasure that we announce that Dr. Steve Goodman was one of 100 new members elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced today. Steve is the fifth faculty member in our department to be granted membership, as Julie Parsonnet was elected last year and John Ioannidis, Mark Cullen, and Alice Whittemore are also members.
Native American Health Center Launches Food as Medicine Program
September 15, 2020. We are excited to announce the launch of a new Food as Medicine initiative at Native American Health Center. This new site includes both a Food Farmacy led by Dig Deep Farms and Behavioral Pharmacy Group Medical Visits led by Open Source Wellness. Congrats to E&PH faculty member Lisa Goldman Rosas for her efforts on this collaboration!
A reflection on the “History of Latinos at Estánfor”
September 24, 2020. E&PH faculty member Yvonne (Bonnie) Maldonado is quoted in this Stanford Daily story about a video by Jesus Beltran ’00, titled “History of Latinos at Estánfor," first shown at the inaugural Stanford Latino Alumni Summit at Stanford University.
Lisa Goldman Rosas invited to serve on PCORI Advisory Panel
September 14, 2020. E&PH faculty member Lisa Goldman Rosas (pictured left) was invited to serve as a member of the PCORI advisory panel on Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science (CEDS) for a term length of 3 years, and she has accepted the invitation.
Plant-based meat lowers some cardiovascular risk factors compared with red meat, study finds
August 11, 2020. A study recently published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and authored by E&PH faculty member Christopher Gardner and Stanford colleagues found that "A diet that includes an average of two servings of plant-based meat alternatives lowers some cardiovascular risk factors compared with a diet that instead includes the same amount of animal meat."
Read the whole Stanford Medicine News story
More media coverage:
September 25, 2020. This study was featured in a Wall Street Journal story, arguing "Companies that aim to win converts to green products need to convince consumers that they’re also acting in their own best interests."
Stanford medical student’s tweet about blueberry pickers’ wages goes viral
August 10, 2020. E&PH MS graduate and incoming medical student Gianna Nino was featured in a Stanford Scope Blog post when her tweet about blueberry pickers' wages went viral.
August 14, 2020. Gianna was profiled by USA Today, in a piece entitled "Med student’s tweet shines light on farmworkers: ‘How much do you pay for your blueberries?'"
Megan Roche featured in Stanford Scope Blog
July 16, 2020. In February, Stanford Scope Blog editors featured Epidemiology & Clinical Research PhD student, Megan Roche and her extraordinary research in this story, "She’s an ultrarunning champion, studying the genetics of sports injury."
Abby King's Our Voice work on Safe Routes to School featured in ISPAH animation project
July 10, 2020. The International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) chose Abby King's Our Voice project, "Safe Routes to School," to be featured in a short animation that was released today! The video is entitled, "Enhancing Safe Routes to School Programs through Community-Engaged Citizen Science: Two Pilot Investigations in Lower Density Areas of Santa Clara County, California, USA."
National Institute on Aging awards $15 million to Stanford’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
June 25, 2020. The National Institute on Aging has announced $15,000,000 in new funding for the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), through June 30, 2025. Directed by Dr. Victor Henderson and Associate Director Dr. Katrin Andreasson, the center serves as a shared resource to facilitate and enhance research on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment associated with Lewy body pathology, and related disorders. The ADRCs are designated as congressionally mandated NIH centers of excellence, and the Stanford ADRC is one of among ~30 ADRCs at major medical institutions across the U.S. working to translate research advances into improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care for people with Alzheimer's disease and related cognitive disorders.
Ann Hsing Chaired a Virtual Mini-Symposium for the AACR
June 24, 2020. Dr. Ann Hsing chaired a virtual mini-symposium on “Infection, Immune Factors, and Cancer” at the American Associations for Cancer Research (AACR) virtual annual meeting.
Tobacco Prevention Toolkit hits milestone reach
June 30, 2020. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher's group's Tobacco Prevention Toolkit hit a major milestone, reaching over 1.5 million youth!
Read about the Toolkit
Biyao Zou awarded 2020 Bio-X Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship (Bio-X SIGF)
May 15, 2020. PhD Student in Epidemiology & Clinical Research, Biyao Zou has been selected to receive a 2020 Bio-X Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship (Bio-X SIGF). She is one of thirty-three students selected for SIGF Fellowships from a highly competitive pool. This award is one of the greatest honors Stanford gives to a doctoral student pursuing interdisciplinary research.
Abby King receives SBM Distinguished Scientist Award
May 6, 2020. Abby King was chosen to receive the Society for Behavioral Medicine's (SBM's) 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award.
Poor state reporting hampers pandemic fight
April 9, 2020. E&PH faculty Steve Goodman and Nigam Shah discussed the best ways to track the effect of stay-at-home policies in this opinion piece which was published byThe Hill.
Stanford-led study shows kids exposed to TB at higher risk of disease than thought
March 19, 2020. E&PH faculty member Julie Parsonnet co-authored a Stanford-led study, published in The Lancet, that shows kids exposed to TB are at higher risk of disease than previously thought, and Stanford Medicine News covered the story!
Access the study and read the whole Stanford Medicine News story
Allison Kurian's and Marcia Stefanick's recent JAMA publication featured in Stanford Medicine News
March 10, 2020. E&PH faculty Allison Kurian and Marcia Stefanick discuss the results of their recent research, recently published in JAMA, which focused on how "Older women with breast cancer may benefit from genetic testing."
Helping neighbors: Addressing diabetes as a community
March 4, 2020. E&PH Communications Manager Katie Kanagawa interviewed faculty member Abby King in this Stanford Scope blog post about addressing diabetes through community engagement.
Eleni Linos's indoor-tanning research featured in Stanford Medicine News
February 4, 2020. This story, entitled "Industry-linked studies more favorable to indoor tanning, researchers say," was published in Stanford Medicine News and also showcased in the 2/13 Stanford Report.
Gary Shaw receives Society for Pediatric Research's highest honor for research in child health
February 4, 2020. E&PH Courtesy Professor Gary M. Shaw, DrPH, is the recipient of the SPR’s 2020 Douglas K. Richardson Award, which honors the lifetime achievement of an investigator who has made substantive contributions in child health. Dr. Shaw has 30 years of experience leading and directing research programs to investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for human birth defects and other pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. Dr. Shaw will give a presentation entitled “Birth Defects an Epidemiologic Challenge – Still” during the PAS 2020 Meeting.
Julia Simard awarded 2020 Pappas Research Grant from the Preeclampsia Foundation
January 30, 2020. The Preeclampsia Foundation announced the recipients of its 2020 Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants, a funding program designed to accelerate preeclampsia research. Based on the recommendations of its Scientific Advisory Council, the Preeclampsia Foundation awarded two grants totaling $184,624 to Dr. Virginia D. Winn, MD, PhD and Julia Fridman Simard, ScD. Both researchers are from Stanford University in California.
Human body temperature has decreased in United States, study finds
January 7, 2020. E&PH faculty member Julie Parsonnet is featured in this Stanford Medicine News story about recent research showing that average human body temperature in the United States has decreased since the 1800s.
Practicing medicine in Antarctica: “It’s a harsh continent”
January 7, 2020. This SCOPE Blog post, by Stanford Medicine Communications staff, is an interview with E&PH faculty member Julie Parsonnet and her husband Dean Winslow about their current medical research at McMurdo Station in Antartica.
Programs arising from Stanford’s long-range vision launching new activities for research and education
December 6, 2019. This Stanford News story describes the the social x-change program that E&PH faculty Lisa Goldman Rosas (pictured) and Mike Baiocchi are involved in as inaugural fellows. Includes a great quote from Dr. Goldman Rosas.
What parents should know about vaping
November 22, 2019. This Stanford SCOPE Blog post features work by E&PH faculty member Bonnie Halpern-Felsher.
Cold water poured on scientific studies based on 'statistical cult'
November 15, 2019. E&PH faculty member Kristin Sainani is featured in this Sydney Morning Herald news story about the MBI Method, its prevalence in sports science, and its shortcomings.
PCORI Methodology Committee Chair
November 6, 2019. Steven Goodman, faculty member in the new Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, was appointed Methodology Committee Chair for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which is the nation's second-largest health research funder. The methodology committee at PCORI is the only entity of its type at any health funding agency, and the only PCORI component mandated by Congress outside of its governing board.
National Academy of Medicine - Parsonnet
October 21, 2019. Julie Parsonnet, Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health and George Deforest Barnett Professor in Medicine (Infectious Diseases), has been elected into the National Academy of Medicine! New members are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.
"Chilling with Charlie" Podcast with Kristin Sainani
October 14, 2019. Kristin Sainani was a guest on the podcast "Chilling with Charlie," where she discussed Magnitude Based Inferences, science writing, and more.
ACE Lilienfeld Award
September 10, 2019. Steven N. Goodman, M.D., M.H.S., Ph.D., Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, Professor of Medicine and Health Research and Policy, and chief of the Division of Epidemiology received the 2019 Abraham Lilienfeld Awardfrom the American College of Epidemiology(ACE), epidemiology’s primary professional organization.
Inaugural Department Chair
September 5 , 2019. Melissa Bondy, PhD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, formerly known as the Department of Health Research and Policy.