Assiamira Ferrara, MD, PhD

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3588 (phone)
assiamira.ferrara@kp.org

Assiamira Ferrara, MD, PhD, has been an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research since 1996. Dr. Ferrara received her medical degree from Universita' degli Studi di Napoli, Italy in 1987. She is a diabetologist, and her research interests include the epidemiology of diabetes and gestational diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hormones and menopause. Dr. Ferrara’s postdoctoral training includes the World Health Organization seminar, Epidemiology and Public Health Aspect of Diabetes Mellitus; and the American Heart Association’s, Ten-Day Seminar on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. At the Division of Research, Dr. Ferrara has been working with Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Registry data, where she developed a women’ health research agenda; and the Kaiser Permanente Gestational Diabetes Registry, overseeing database architecture design, identification of incident cases and maintenance. She is the principal investigator of several studies on diabetes, including a study funded by the AHA on HRT and CVD risk in women with type 2 diabetes; two studies funded by NIDDK and ADA to examine the association between maternal glycemia and perinatal complications in women without GDM, in order to identify new lower glucose cut-point for GDM; and two studies funded by CDC, a study on secular trend of GDM and diabetes in pregnancy, and a study on type 2 diabetes among adolescents. Dr. Ferrera is an active member of the American Diabetes Association’s Council for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, American Diabetes Association’s Council for Diabetes in pregnancy, American Heart Association’s Council for Epidemiology, and European Diabetes Epidemiology Group.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist III, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 2002-present

Primary Research Interests:

Epidemiology of diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Hormones
Gestational diabetes
Menopause

Comparative effectiveness of diabetes prevention strategies in women with GDM

The main goal of this study is to examine the comparative effectiveness of diabetes prevention strategies in women with gestational diabetes on the control of the following conditions: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and depression in a real-world practices setting. To achieve this goal, we will conduct a cluster randomized lifestyle program with randomization at the medical center level. A telehealth postpartum lifestyle intervention will be compared to printed education materials mailed during the postpartum (i.e. usual care). We will prospectively identify a diverse population of 2500 women with GDM receiving health care during pregnancy at 30 medical centers.
Funder: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

The Influence of Glycemic Control on Surgical Complications, Revisions, and Hospital Readmissions Following Total Joint Replacement

To investigate the influence of glycemic control on surgical complications, revisions, hospital readmissions following total joint replacement using the Total Joint Replacement Registry (TJRR) and the CESR Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW).
Funder: Center for Comparative Effectiveness
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Risk and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in a Subsequent Pregnancy

This study seeks to determine the risk and the risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at a subsequent pregnancy among 48,000 women from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California GDM registry who had at least two pregnancies between 1995 and 2005.
Funder: Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Pulmonary Disease in Diabetes (Diabetes and Pulmonary Outcomes)

This study provides information on the prevalence and incidence rates (yearly and cumulative) of pulmonary outcomes including lung cancer, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, sarcoidosis, and all others among appropriate study group
Funder: Eli Lilly
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Translational Diabetes Prevention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

This study aims to implement and evaluate an intervention of diet and physical activity among women with GDM, that starts during pregnancy and continues after pregnancy with the primary goals reaching prepregnancy weight if women had normal weight prior to pregnancy; or reaching 5 percent reduction of the prepregnancy body weight if women were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Cohort Study of Pioglitazone and Cancer Incidence in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

This study explores the potential association between treatment with pioglitazone and risk of cancer at sites other than bladder using information available from a variety of Kaiser Permanente Northern California electronic data sources.
Funder: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Cohort Study of Pioglitazone and Bladder Cancer in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

This cohort study examines the possible association of pioglitazone use with the incidence of new bladder cancer in the Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Registry, Northern California.
Funder: Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America
Principal Investigator: Ferrara, Assiamira

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research