Research in the School of Public Health
The School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Washington is recognized worldwide for its collective strengths in public health research. In fiscal year 2008-09, the faculty in the School of Public Health was awarded over $87 million in external funding for research and training from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. SPH regular and research faculty who are based at our partner institutions (see below) bring in an additional $82 million in external funding. The research topics covered by our faculty span a wide range of areas of great importance to public health, including studies on: emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; environmental and occupational health hazards; occurrence and causes of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; health care delivery and services; and development of new biostatistical methodologies. The topics of research range from the basic molecular approaches to understanding the root cause of disease, to human population-based studies of diseases, to field-based intervention projects to empower communities to improve their own health, to clinical trials of new treatments or medications important for public health protection, to understanding the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic research in populations.
Although the range of topics and the types of research are broad, all of our research has a common theme -- finding new and cost-effective ways of improving health and preventing disease. Our faculty work closely with faculty in the many other excellent Schools and Colleges that constitute the University of Washington. Collaborations with Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, and Engineering are commonplace, as this University prides itself on creating an environment that promotes interdisciplinary teaching and research. The University of Washington consistently ranks in the top 2 or 3 Universities in the nation in acquisition of federal research dollars. This success is due in large part to the quality of our faculty, and the intellectual and administrative environment that promotes multidisciplinary creativity in research and teaching.
Partner Institutions in the Seattle Area
The research enterprise of the School of Public Health is greatly enhanced by our partnerships with other excellent research organizations in the Puget Sound region, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Group Health Cooperative, the Veterans Administration Hospital, and other University-Affiliated hospitals such as Harborview Hospital and Medical Center and Children's Hospital and Medical Center. Our researchers also work closely with local and state governmental agencies, such as the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. In addition, our faculty have built strong research collaborations with many national and international programs that support and/or conduct public health research. Thus, although we are a state supported institution that addresses local and regional public health needs, our reach is also international in scale and scope.
Research Centers based in the School of Public Health
The School's many research centers, though administratively based in specific departments, are interdisciplinary and usually include faculty in other departments, schools, and colleges at the University of Washington.
For more information on the research programs within the School of Public Health, please explore the departmental Web sites and individual faculty listings.
