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

Dr. Gary Buchschacher
Gary L. Buchschacher Jr., MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Los Angeles
Medical Oncology
Clinical.Trials@kp.org

Dr. Gary Buchschacher is the director of the Cancer Clinical Trials Access Program. He coordinates and leads the program’s activities and acts as principal investigator for numerous studies. He is the site PI for the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center and a member of its Oncology Steering Committee.

Dr. Buchschacher is the medical oncology lead for the Southern California Permanente Medical Group’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Subcommittee and a member of the Regional Cancer ...

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: Good news for people newly diagnosed with MOGAD: Study finds low relapse risk

Good news for people newly diagnosed with MOGAD: Study finds low relapse risk

People newly diagnosed with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, or MOGAD, generally had a low risk of relapse and lasting disability, according to a Kaiser Permanente study. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in Southern California followed 69 children and adults diagnosed at their first MOGAD attack and found that more than 80% fully recovered, while just ...

Ultraprocessed foods linked to body fat gain in children

Children who ate more ultraprocessed foods showed stronger activity in a part of the brain involved in reward, and that brain response was linked to greater gains in body fat over the following year, a new study found. The study — published October 2026 in JAMA Network Open — followed 46 children ages 7 to ...

No increased stroke risk found after COVID-19 and flu vaccinations

A large multisite study found that bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, flu vaccination, and same-day administration of both vaccines were not associated with an increased risk of first-ever ischemic stroke. “This study found no evidence of an increased risk of ischemic stroke following bivalent COVID-19 vaccination, influenza vaccination, or receiving both vaccines on the same day,” ...

RSV vaccine protects older adults for at least 3 seasons

An RSV vaccine continued to protect adults aged 60 and older against RSV-related hospitalization and emergency department visits for at least 3 seasons after vaccination, according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and even death ...

Five questions for Dr. Casey Luc

Casey Luc, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist with expertise in HIV epidemiology in underserved communities, is the fifth Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service officer to train with Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Department of Research & Evaluation. Before joining Kaiser Permanente, he served as a health scientist contractor in the Syndemic Infectious Diseases ...

Featured Division

Biostatistics Research

Investigators with the Division of Biostatistics Research collaborate closely with scientists from the department’s other scientific divisions, as well as physician researchers at medical centers across Kaiser Permanente Southern California. They provide expertise and guidance on study design, power and sample size calculations, data management, data analysis and interpretation, and statistical methodology.

Investigators from the division have expertise in study design and data analysis for observational studies and clinical trials to address study questions. Their expertise spans standard and modern methods that deal with complex and big data for population and causal inferences as well as disease prediction. Each division has at least one dedicated collaborative biostatistician research scientist assigned to provide statistical guidance on its research studies.