About Our Program

As a research center embedded within Kaiser Permanente’s large and dynamic health care system, our investigators have a unique opportunity to apply scientific expertise to real-world clinical problems, translate findings into practice, and share what we learn with the broader community.

Featured Scientist

Heidi Fischer, PhD
Research Scientist I
Division of Biostatistics Research
626-564-3290
Heidi.Fischer@kp.org

Dr. Heidi Fischer is a collaborative biostatistician research scientist for the Division of Epidemiologic Research in the Department of Research & Evaluation. Her research interests include multilevel models, functional data analysis, Bayesian statistics, time series analysis, and bias assessment for observational data. She has extensive experience in health care research and conducting complex statistical analyses using electronic health record data.

At Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Fischer ...

Featured Video

Research showing value of exercise before COVID-19 diagnosis earns special recognition

Being active can lower your risk of getting seriously ill with COVID, regardless of your race or the chronic conditions you may have, according to research published last year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The Kaiser Permanente Southern California findings were important, impactful, and influential. As a result, the journal editors chose the research article, “Associations of Physical Inactivity and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Subgroups,” as the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023 Article of the Year.

News

Featured Image of News Story Titled: Research explores intensive blood pressure control for patients with chronic kidney disease

Research explores intensive blood pressure control for patients with chronic kidney disease

The benefits of intensive blood pressure shown in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) also helps patients with chronic kidney disease, according to new research led by Kaiser Permanente and Stanford University. The study was published in January 2025 in JAMA Network Open. The SPRINT clinical trial included adults with hypertension and elevated cardiovascular ...

Study highlights the impact of electronic media use on young people

Young people who frequently used electronic media, such as computers, television, and social media, had less physical activity, more stress, and modest cognitive challenges. The study was published in January 2025 in Preventive Medicine. “Our research found an association between electronic media use and a negative impact on youth,” said the study’s lead author,  Deborah ...

New study sheds light on incidence of IgA nephropathy

A recent Kaiser Permanente study described the incidence of IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune kidney disease, nationally, as well as among people of different race and ethnicities. The study was published in the American Journal of Nephrology in November 2024. “IgA nephropathy is a rare disease. Attempts to determine its incidence in the United States have ...

RSV vaccine protects older adults against severe illness

A new study by Kaiser Permanente has shown that the ABRYSVO respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is very effective in reducing emergency room visits and hospital stays due to RSV among older adults. “This Kaiser Permanente research demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of RSV vaccination among those 60 and over,” said lead author Sara Y. Tartof, PhD, ...

Study finds air pollution may increase risk of preterm birth

Exposure to a specific kind of air pollution, fine particulate matter, during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth, which can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in JAMA Network Open. “Consistent with other study findings, this current study has demonstrated that ...

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Featured Division

Clinician Research

The Division of Clinician Research provides support and resources for researchers who maintain clinical practices while building their own research portfolios.

The Division of Clinician Research provides support and resources for researchers who maintain clinical practices while building their own research portfolios. Key goals include fostering collaboration among clinician researchers, expanding research education, and promoting research that has the potential to transform care and improve the health of our communities.

The division, which was established in 2023, provides administrative support to the Regional Research Committee and the Clinician Investigator Program and manages a team of biostatisticians dedicated to physician research. It co-leads the Care Improvement Research Team, a group that brings together clinicians and research scientists to answer questions with the potential to change practice.

The division actively engages with various collaborators throughout the organization and is working to establish an interconnected network of clinicians, scientists, educators, administrators, and leaders who will work together to drive clinically impactful change through research.