About our Research
Growing New Programs
Forty-seven years ago, with the concept of integrated care just taking off and technology promising to forge new paths in medical research and medical care, the Division of Research (DOR) began its journey to becoming a leader in epidemiologic and health services research.
Today, as it increases its research collaborations and pursues growth in numerous areas, including genetics, health policy, technology, health disparities, and clinical research, the DOR and its investigators are relying on that solid bedrock of epidemiological expertise.
Since our last report, the DOR has launched several exciting new programs and centers, including the Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health, which seeks to understand how genes and the environment affect health.
The DOR has also created the Comprehensive Clinical Research Unit to centralize its growing clinical trials program. As the DOR plays a greater role in national health policy discussions, the new Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Policy Studies at the DOR will serve as an important clearinghouse for key research. Moreover, as interdisciplinary collaborations have become increasingly important in creating more powerful research, the DOR has joined with the University of California, San Francisco in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to expand inter-institutional collaborative clinical research as well as training of students, residents, fellows, and faculty in clinical and translational research.
And this is only the start. Expect to see announcements of additional collaborations in the coming year.
As the DOR launches new research endeavors, we continue to rely on our unique assets--the ability to tap into millions of Kaiser Permanente electronic health records, our strong research team, close ties with physicians in The Permanente Medical Group and, ultimately, a unique and collaborative relationship with many institutions across the nation.