Jon Weiner, Author at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research

Video: Celebrating 60 years of health research

July 25, 2022

In 2022, the Division of Research celebrates more than 60 years of health care research. This new video helps tell our story.

Bette Caan joins global Cancer Grand Challenges team

June 16, 2022

Caan joins a team of researchers who have received a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges award to tackle the challenge of cachexia — a debilitating wasting condition people often experience in the later stages of their cancer.

Innovating health care through the decades

June 6, 2022

In 2022, the Division of Research celebrates 60 years of innovative health care research.

Diverse new class of postdoctoral fellows adds to research strength

October 19, 2021

The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research postdoctoral research program drew one of its largest-ever classes of fellows this year, building the strength of DOR’s research portfolio. Seven fellows cover fields from diet to dementia, cancer to clinical informatics, to women’s and children’s health, and more.

It’s flu season: What you need to know about the research

October 9, 2020

What does it take to be sure the annual flu vaccine is effective and safe? Research. In a podcast, Nicola Klein, head of the Vaccine Study Center, tackles some common questions about the vaccine and recent findings.

Kaiser Permanente joins late-stage COVID-19 vaccine study

August 12, 2020

The Division of Research has joined a phase 3 clinical trial testing a Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Northwest join them in this global effort.

Population-level estimates show wide age range of adults hospitalized with COVID-19

April 24, 2020

A JAMA study, using data on patients hospitalized in March from all 21 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals, is one of the first U.S. studies to look at overall hospitalization admissions of COVID-19 patients.

Depression, anxiety, trauma associated with elevated odds of cannabis use during pregnancy

February 19, 2020

In a new study, researchers from Kaiser Permanente have shown that depression, anxiety, and trauma during pregnancy are associated with prenatal marijuana use.

The New Faces of Research

January 16, 2020

Diabetes, medication safety, and understanding chronic conditions are just some of the research areas a new class of postdoctoral fellows at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research will support. The 3 early-career researchers began their appointments this past year.

‘Motivational interview’ may lessen problem drinking in people with HIV

June 11, 2019

A single, 45-minute “motivational interview” with two 20-minute follow-up phone calls may help people with HIV who report unhealthy drinking reduce their alcohol intake, say researchers at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente.

American Diabetes Association honors Kaiser Permanente researcher with its Norbert Freinkel Award

May 28, 2019

The American Diabetes Association’s 2019 Norbert Freinkel Award has been presented to Kaiser Permanente researcher Assiamira Ferrara, MD, PhD, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the understanding and treatment of diabetes in pregnancy.

Intervention, referrals lead to reduced health care needs for adolescents with substance abuse disorders

April 23, 2019

A new study suggests that the benefits to adolescent teens of screenings, interventions, and referrals can last for many years and can include sustained reductions in mental health conditions.

5 Questions for . . . Stacy Sterling

April 3, 2019

The former social worker now researches how to prevent and treat alcohol abuse in primary care. She’s looking at ways to reduce alcohol, drug, and other behavioral health problems in at-risk children, adolescents, and adults.

Fewer Reproductive Years May Be Linked to an Increased Risk of Dementia

March 27, 2019

Women who start their period later, go through menopause earlier or have a hysterectomy may have a greater risk of developing dementia, according to a new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers and published in the journal, Neurology.

Kaiser Permanente Substance Abuse Researcher Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

March 20, 2019

The Research Society on Alcoholism awarded its 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award to Constance (Connie) Weisner, DrPH, for a “long, balanced career including outstanding research, training, service, and advocacy.”

5 Questions for . . . Bette Caan

March 18, 2019

Does weight gain — or loss — change a breast cancer patient’s cancer outcome? What about muscle mass? Epidemiologist Bette Caan wanted to find out about that, and more.

The New Faces of Health Care Research, Pt. 2

January 30, 2019

In part 2 of our profile series, meet the last three of the seven early-career researchers who began their post-doctoral appointments this past year and represent not only diverse communities but diverse research interests as well.

The New Faces of Health Care Research

January 22, 2019

Seven early-career researchers began their post-doctoral appointments this past year and represent not only diverse communities but diverse research interests as well. This is Part 1 of our new class profile.

Linking Smoking Interventions to Surgery Yields Successful Outcomes

January 18, 2019

A pilot program to help people quit smoking by focusing interventions around surgery time improved patients’ ability to sustain quitting in the 30 days following hospital discharge.

Work by the Division of Research Makes Top JAMA Lists for 2018

January 14, 2019

The JAMA Network, the publication home for numerous top-tier journals from the American Medical Association, released a list of the “Most Talked About Articles” in each of their various publications for 2018. DOR research appears on four lists.

Mom’s Poor Diet in Pregnancy Linked to Baby’s Higher Weight at Birth

January 8, 2019

Kaiser Permanente study shows replacing empty calories with whole grains lead to a 25 percent decreased risk of large-for-gestational age offspring.

5 Questions for . . . Michael Silverberg

November 28, 2018

With December 1 marking World AIDS Day, this infectious disease expert looks at the state of HIV/AIDS research. And despite his Northern California location, admits he’s a diehard Los Angeles Lakers fan.

5 Questions for . . . Julie Schmittdiel

November 5, 2018

The math major-turned diabetes researcher now also leads several training programs, helping to form a new generation of researchers.

Menopause Journal Highlights Three DOR Studies as Among Most Significant in Their History

November 2, 2018

The journal Menopause selected three DOR studies for its 25th commemorative issue highlighting the most important studies in the journal’s history.

Q&A: Talking Flu Shots with Nicola Klein, Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Vaccine Study Center

September 19, 2018

Dr. Klein’s latest research raised some interesting questions about when influenza vaccinations are most effective, so we spoke with her to learn more and answer some common flu vaccine questions.

Kaiser Permanente Receives $7 Million to Better Identify Those at Risk of Getting Cancer

August 24, 2018

A research team at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research has been awarded $7 million that will allow them to assess three different methods for acquiring and acting on family history, from initial acquisition to final results.

5 Questions for . . . Alyce Adams

June 20, 2018

Alyce Adams, PhD, tackles 5 questions about the barriers to health care among vulnerable patient populations and her motivation towards finding solutions.

Kaiser Permanente Dataset Helps ID Dozens of Genetic Markers for Depression

April 30, 2018

By analyzing the genomes of people with depression and comparing them with the genomes of people without depression, a global team, including Kaiser Permanente researchers, identified 44 specific places in the human genome with links to depression.

NCI Funds New 5-year, $16M, Program to Understand Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening

April 26, 2018

Researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research will lead a consortium evaluating colorectal cancer as part of the NCI’s Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process program.

5 Questions for . . . Lisa Croen

April 19, 2018

Kaiser Permanente autism researcher answers 5 questions about what motivated her to move into this research field and the challenges in better understanding these disorders.

Muscle and Fat: How They Affect the Survival of Patients with Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer

April 5, 2018

New Kaiser Permanente study shows a better identification of low muscle and high fat might lead to better outcomes A...

Children With Autism and Their Younger Siblings Less Likely to Be Fully Vaccinated

March 26, 2018

Children with autism and their younger siblings are significantly less likely to be fully vaccinated than the general population, according to new research published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Eight Weeks or Twelve? Kaiser Permanente Study Shows Shorter Hepatitis C Regimen Effective in Black Patients

March 15, 2018

A new study shows that a treatment regimen of 8 weeks for hepatitis C may be just as effective as 12 weeks in black patients. The study also showed that more people overall can take advantage of the shorter treatment durations, which has important implications for access given the medication’s high cost.

5 Questions for . . . Doug Corley

March 13, 2018

Kaiser Permanente gastroenterologist answers 5 questions about his research into colon cancer, what sparked his interest, and things about the colon you may never have known.

5 Questions for… Matthew Solomon

February 14, 2018

Matthew Solomon, MD, a Kaiser Permanente cardiologist and researcher, answers 5 questions about himself and the mysteries of the heart.

Historic Kaiser Permanente Artifact Donated to Smithsonian Institution

January 24, 2018

The Smithsonian recently received punch cards used in Kaiser Permanente’s multiphasic exam; the Division of Research (then the Medical Records Research) received its first U.S. Public Health Service grant to automate the results in 1962.

30-Year National Study Shows Women Who Breastfeed for 6 Months or More Reduce their Diabetes Risk by 50%

January 16, 2018

In a long-term national study, breastfeeding for six months or longer cuts the risk of developing type 2 diabetes nearly in half for women throughout their childbearing years, according to new Kaiser Permanente research published Jan. 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Kaiser Permanente stroke patients receive clot-busting medication more than twice as fast as national rates

December 15, 2017

Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California are delivering clot-busting medication to new stroke patients more than twice as fast as the national average. This follows the region-wide adoption of an integrated telemedicine program, according to new research published December 15 in the journal Stroke.

Large Genome Study Reveals Record Number of DNA Loci Linked with Eye Pressure

December 15, 2017

Analysis of DNA from nearly 70,000 Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients uncovered 47 specific positions, or loci, in the genome that are associated with variations in pressure inside the eye. The findings could help clarify how elevated eye pressure leads to glaucoma.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Provides Evidence of Health Risks Linked to Electromagnetic Field Exposure

December 14, 2017

A Kaiser Permanente study of real-world exposure to non-ionizing radiation from magnetic fields in pregnant women found a significantly higher rate of miscarriage, providing new evidence regarding their potential health risks.

Urban American-Indian and Alaskan Natives May Have Lower Survival Following Invasive Prostate and Breast Cancer

December 1, 2017

Compared with the non-Hispanic white (NHW) population, the urban American-Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) community was more likely to have lower survival rates following invasive prostate and breast cancer, according to results published by Kaiser Permanente researchers and colleagues in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.