CIHR in the News
May 15, 2024
Scientists unravel genetic basis for neurodegenerative disorders that affect vision
NIH-led findings point to a biomarker for rare disorders associated with the gene PNPLA6. Led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a team of scientists has uncovered the complex molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders linked to the gene PNPLA6, which encompass a range of conditions affecting mobility, vision, and hormonal regulation. Published in the journal BRAIN
, the research offers a deeper understanding of PNPLA6-related conditions at clinical, genetic, and molecular levels, paving the way for tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
May 4, 2024
Genetic testing interpretation from basic to advanced
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2024 Education Course. Robert B. Hufnagel, MD, PhD, FACMG, Organizer.
March 16, 2024
PNPLA6-related disorders
American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting. Robert B. Hufnagel, MD, PhD, FACMG, Invited Speaker.
September 15, 2023
Receipt of BNT162b2 Vaccine and COVID-19 Ambulatory Visits in US Children Younger Than 5 Years
Wild-type COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were recommended for children aged 6 months through 4 years on June 18, 2022.1 However, COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this age group is low, with less than 5% completing a primary vaccine series as of May 24, 2023.2 Only 1 study has described the association between COVID-19 vaccination and disease outcomes among children younger than 5 years, but it did not include children younger than 3 years or evaluate medically attended outcomes.3 This study estimated the association between receipt of wild-type BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer) and medically attended COVID-19 outcomes among children younger than 5 years.
May 15, 2023
Prevalence of cardiovascular disease among Asian, Pacific Islander and multi-race populations in Hawai’i and California
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the US. CVD incidence is influenced by many demographic, clinical, cultural, and psychosocial factors, including race and ethnicity. Despite recent research, there remain limitations on understanding CVD health among Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs), particularly some subgroups and multi-racial populations. Combining diverse API populations into one study group and difficulties in defining API subpopulations and multi-race individuals have hampered efforts to identify and address health disparities in these growing populations.
November 15, 2022
Employing a Stepped-Wedge Design to Implement an Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for PTSD in Six Large, Diverse Health Care Systems
PCORI funds implementation projects that integrate evidence developed through PCORI-funded studies, in the context of the body of related evidence, into practice. This project focuses on implementing findings on several kinds of therapy and medicines that can reduce or stop symptoms for people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
August 17, 2022
Cancer clinical trials: Can they help find a cure?
These important research studies aim to help patients live longer, better lives. A chief of oncology explains how.
August 3, 2022
Effectiveness Associated With BNT162b2 Vaccine Against Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters for Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Adolescents Aged 12 to 17 Years
What is the durability associated with 2 doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine against Delta- and Omicron-related emergency department and urgent care encounters among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, and is a third dose associated with improved protection?
August 2022
Incidence of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Infection, by Ethnic Group, Hawaii, USA, 2005–2019
To further clarify differences in the risk for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection (NTM-PI) among ethnic populations in Hawaii, USA, we conducted a retrospective cohort study among beneficiaries of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii (KPH).
August 2022
Ethnicity and the Mechanisms of Point-of-Sale E-Cigarette Marketing’s Influence on Behavior: A Longitudinal Study
To test the mechanisms by which exposure to point-of-sale (POS) e-cigarette marketing mediate the relationship between an ethnic minority group highly vulnerable for tobacco product use, namely Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NHPI), and increased future e-cigarette use through explicit (positive outcome expectancies) and implicit (spontaneous positive reactions) pathways.
May 1, 2022
Chronic health conditions, acute health events, and healthcare utilization among adults over age 50 in Hawai’i who use cannabis: A matched cohort study
Research on cannabis-related health outcomes in diverse older adults is limited. The current study utilized a matched cohort study design to compare older adults in Hawai’i with identified cannabis diagnoses and matched controls on chronic health conditions, acute health events, and healthcare utilization from 2016 to 2020.
February 14, 2022
Effectiveness of a third dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a large US health system: A retrospective cohort study
Globally, recommendations are expanding for third (booster) doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech). In the United States, as of November 19, 2021, boosters were recommended for all adults aged 18 years and older. We evaluated the effectiveness of a third dose of BNT162b2 among adults in a large US integrated health system.
January 20, 2022
Lung Cancer Screening by Race and Ethnicity in an Integrated Health System in Hawaii
Racial and ethnic differences in lung cancer screening (LCS) completion and follow-up may be associated with lung cancer incidence and mortality rates among high-risk populations. Aggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander racial and ethnic groups may mask the true underlying disparities in screening uptake and diagnostic follow-up, creating barriers for targeted, preventive health care.
October 4, 2021
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine effectiveness wanes over time
A recent study led by Kaiser Permanente found the Pfizer-BioNTech, BNT162b2, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective against hospitalization for 6 months after full vaccination, even in the face of widespread transmission of the delta variant. The study was published in The Lancet.
September 8, 2021
Weight changes according to treatment in a diverse cohort of breast cancer patients
Weight changes have been reported to be influenced by several factors such as age, treatment, stage and pre-diagnostic weight. We evaluated weight changes during key treatment time points in early stage breast cancer patients.
May 21, 2020
Permanente Medicine powers coordinated effort around remdesivir clinical research trials
Clinical trials for treating COVID-19 patients with the antiviral drug remdesivir started at Kaiser Permanente in mid-March and will continue through the end of May.