Ai Kubo, MPH, PhD

People

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3750 (phone)
ai.kubo@kp.org
Kaiser Permanente Researcher Profiles

Ai Kubo, MPH, PhD, is a research scientist and epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. She received her Master's Degree in Public Health in 2002 from the University of California, Berkeley, and her PhD in Epidemiology in 2007 from Columbia University. Her current research focuses on the developmental origin of health and diseases, particularly adolescent mental health and pubertal development, and mindfulness-based interventions to reduce depression and distress in various populations. She is currently the principal investigator of a large randomized clinical trial investigating whether mindfulness reduces the risk of postpartum depression in Black and Latinx pregnant women (funded by the National Institute of Mental Health) and a large population-based study examining how early life factors influence pubertal timing and mental health outcomes in adolescents (funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist II, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

Cancer epidemiology
Behavioral intervention

Studies

mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Pregnant Black and Latina Women at Risk of Postpartum Depression

This randomized controlled trial of an mHealth mindfulness intervention designed for Black and Latinx pregnant women at risk of developing postpartum depression will compare outcomes (depression, stress, sleep) of participants in the intervention with those in the control arm.
Investigator: Avalos, Lyndsay; Kubo, Ai
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health

Sex and Race/Ethnicity-specific Multilevel Factors Influencing Pubertal Trajectories: A Population-based Study

The goal of this project is to describe the normative distributions of pubertal development among boys and girls by race/ethnicity and to investigate early-life risk factors affecting pubertal onset and tempo (velocity of transition between onset and maturation). We will also examine contextual factors such as the social and built environment as potential risk factors.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Women with Perinatal Depression: A Feasibility Study

The primary goal of this project is to assess the feasibility of conducting a mobile-health mindfulness intervention (mHealth) study among pregnant and postpartum women with depressive symptoms. Perinatal depression has numerous adverse health consequences, including preterm delivery, negative maternal-infant interaction, and child behavior problems. We will recruit ~30 women who present symptoms of perinatal depression from the OBGYN clinics at Kaiser Permanente and use a single-arm intervention design to assess the feasibility of conducting a six-week mHealth mindfulness intervention. We will also obtain preliminary efficacy results consisting of patient-reported outcomes on depression, anxiety, perceived stress, health behaviors, mindfulness, and sleep.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: Northern California Community Benefit Programs

A Pilot Pragmatic Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Quality of Life Among Metastatic Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Screening for psychosocial distress is an accreditation requirement of the Commission on Cancer, underscoring the importance of addressing cancer patients’ psychosocial needs. Mindfulness-based training is one strategy that has been shown to help cancer patients reduce distress and improve quality of life. However, logistical requirements of standard in-person mindfulness classes make it impractical for cancer patients to receive benefit. To address this issue, we have conducted a few studies that demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of non-face-to-face mindfulness approaches (e.g., CD, MP3 and mobile app). Building on these studies, this project will pilot test the feasibility of implementing a mobile/online-based mindfulness program for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers in a cluster randomized trial involving six oncology clinics.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: The Permanente Medical Group

Being Present: A Feasibility Study of Audio-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Metastatic Cancer Patients and Caregiver

Based on our previous pilot study of CD-based mindfulness intervention for cancer patients, we propose to develop a mobile application and pilot test its acceptability among cancer patients and their caregivers in order to reduce stress and to improve quality of life. We will hold a focus group to obtain participants feedback regarding the mobile-based intervention, and conduct an 8-week feasibility study using the application.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: Kaiser Permanente Institutional Planned Giving

Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Pilot Study for Cancer Patients and Caregivers

This pilot randomized trial will test the feasibility of a mobile-app based mindfulness intervention for cancer patients and their caregivers in order to reduce stress, and to improve quality of life and patient-provider communication.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: American Cancer Society

Early Life Determinants of Accelerated Pubertal Development in Adolescent Girls

The goal of this research is to identify early life factors which influence the timing of pubertal development among adolescent girls. The first study utilizes data from the Cohort Study of Young Girls Nutrition, Environment and Transitions (CYGNET), which has been collecting detailed data on pubertal development, behavioral, environmental, and anthropometric information among 444 adolescent girls since 2005. The second study is a prospective cohort study of approximately 10,000 adolescent girls (age 8-9) within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California population. We will use Tanner stage information that has been entered into HealthConnect to identify early life risk factors of early pubertal development as well as racial/ethnic differences in the timing of pubertal development.
Investigator: Kubo, Ai
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Highlighted Publications

Perceived psychosocial stress and gestational weight gain among women with gestational diabetes

Author(s): Kubo A; Ferrara A; Brown SD; Ehrlich SF; Tsai AL; Quesenberry CP; Crites Y; Hedderson MM

PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0174290. Epub 2017-03-28.

Current Position(s):

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

Studies

mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Pregnant Black and Latina Women at Risk of Postpartum Depression

Sex and Race/Ethnicity-specific Multilevel Factors Influencing Pubertal Trajectories: A Population-based Study

mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Women with Perinatal Depression: A Feasibility Study

A Pilot Pragmatic Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Quality of Life Among Metastatic Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

Being Present: A Feasibility Study of Audio-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Metastatic Cancer Patients and Caregiver

Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Pilot Study for Cancer Patients and Caregivers

Early Life Determinants of Accelerated Pubertal Development in Adolescent Girls

Highlighted Publications

Perceived psychosocial stress and gestational weight gain among women with gestational diabetes

Associations Between Maternal Pregravid Obesity and Gestational Diabetes and the Timing of Pubarche in Daughters

Maternal Hyperglycemia During Pregnancy Predicts Adiposity of the Offspring

Yoga for heart failure patients: a feasibility pilot study with a multiethnic population

Publications

Maternal mental health and offspring brain development: An umbrella review of prenatal interventions

Neighborhood Racial and Economic Privilege and Timing of Pubertal Onset in Girls

A novel smartphone application for the informal caregivers of cancer patients: Usability study

Associations between childhood obesity and pubertal timing stratified by sex and race/ethnicity

Associations between infant growth and pubertal onset timing in a multiethnic prospective cohort of girls

Engagement in perinatal depression treatment: a qualitative study of barriers across and within racial/ethnic groups

Girls' Pubertal Timing and Tempo and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Examination in an Ethnically Diverse Sample

mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Women with Moderate-to-Moderately-Severe Antenatal Depressive Symptoms: a Pilot Study Within an Integrated Health Care System

Being Present 2.0: Online Mindfulness-Based Program for Metastatic Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients and Caregivers

A Mobile Health Mindfulness Intervention for Women With Moderate to Moderately Severe Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Feasibility Study

Early life household intactness and timing of pubertal onset in girls: a prospective cohort study

Pilot pragmatic randomized trial of mHealth mindfulness-based intervention for advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers

Childhood Adversity and Pubertal Development Among Puerto Rican Boys and Girls

Breastfeeding and timing of pubertal onset in girls: a multiethnic population-based prospective cohort study

Maternal Gestational Weight Gain, Obesity, and the Timing of Pubertal Onset in Daughters

A Randomized Controlled Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and Informal Cancer Caregivers: A Feasibility Study Within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System

Associations Between Maternal Obesity and Pregnancy Hyperglycemia and Timing of Pubertal Onset in Adolescent Girls: A Population-Based Study

A Pilot Mobile-based Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and their Informal Caregivers

Being Present: A single-arm feasibility study of audio-based mindfulness meditation for colorectal cancer patients and caregivers

Perceived psychosocial stress and gestational weight gain among women with gestational diabetes

Lifestyle behaviors and ethnic identity among diverse women at high risk for type 2 diabetes

Associations Between Maternal Pregravid Obesity and Gestational Diabetes and the Timing of Pubarche in Daughters

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus

Maternal Hyperglycemia During Pregnancy Predicts Adiposity of the Offspring

Prevention of Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B: An Observational Study

Dietary guideline adherence for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Sex-specific associations between body mass index, waist circumference and the risk of Barrett's oesophagus: a pooled analysis from the international BEACON consortium

Dietary fiber and the risk of precancerous lesions and cancer of the esophagus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yoga for heart failure patients: a feasibility pilot study with a multiethnic population

Dietary factors and the risks of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's oesophagus

Proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists are associated with hip fractures among at-risk patients

Diagnosing Barrett's esophagus: reliability of clinical and pathologic diagnoses

Cigarette smoking and the risk of Barrett's esophagus

Alcohol types and sociodemographic characteristics as risk factors for Barrett's esophagus

Race, ethnicity, sex and temporal differences in Barrett's oesophagus diagnosis: a large community-based study, 1994-2006

Effects of dietary fiber, fats, and meat intakes on the risk of Barrett's esophagus

Iron intake and body iron stores as risk factors for Barrett's esophagus: a community-based study

Hemochromatosis gene status as a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus

Helicobacter pylori and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a case-control study

Dietary antioxidants, fruits, and vegetables and the risk of Barrett's esophagus

Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of Barrett's oesophagus: a community-based study

Dietary patterns and the risk of Barrett's esophagus

Abdominal obesity and the risk of esophageal and gastric cardia carcinomas

Meta-analysis of antioxidant intake and the risk of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma

Abdominal obesity and body mass index as risk factors for Barrett's esophagus

Abdominal obesity, ethnicity and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms

Body mass index and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Body mass index and adenocarcinomas of the esophagus or gastric cardia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Risk of hemorrhagic stroke in Asian American ethnic groups

Influence of site classification on cancer incidence rates: an analysis of gastric cardia carcinomas

Marked multi-ethnic variation of esophageal and gastric cardia carcinomas within the United States

Marked regional variation in adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and the gastric cardia in the United States