Finding a surrogate measure of efficacy should speed regulators' decisions on vaccine approval even without large placebo-controlled studies, which could be impracticable to carry out if vaccines become widely available, said Peter Gilbert, a researcher at Fred Hutchinson and an author of the recent study.

Eagerly anticipated new research pinpoints antibodies scientists can test for to see if a COVID-19 vaccine is effective. These "correlates of protection" could speed the development of new vaccines or boosters without requiring the enormous clinical trials used to create the first COVID-19 vaccines. This is "the Holy Grail" in terms of vaccines, and one that hasn't yet been set for the virus that causes COVID-19, said Peter Gilbert, co-author of the study posted August 10 to medRxiv and a UW research professor of biostatistics.

Biostatistics faculty Lianne Sheppard, Marco Carone and Adam Szpiro were members of a UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS) research team that found Puget Sound residents exposed to higher levels of fine particulate air pollution over a 10-year period had a greater risk of developing dementia. 

The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced 11 new artificial-intelligence research institutes, including one led by the University of Washington. Daniela Witten, professor of biostatistics and statistics, is part of the UW-led AI Institute for Dynamic Systems that will focus on fundamental AI and machine learning theory, algorithms and applications for real-time learning and control of complex dynamic systems, which describe chaotic situations where conditions are constantly shifting and hard to predict.

Fred Hutch researcher and UW Biostatistics alum Elizabeth Krantz (MS, '00) co-led a project that examined how much protection cancer patients have against measles and mumps. "Our findings really emphasize the need to increase immunity at the community level, particularly among health care workers or caregivers who have frequent contact with cancer patients."

Patrick Heagerty, professor of biostatistics and former department chair, is among 38 new members elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021.

It’s estimated 150 million Americans – 57 per cent of the country – watched the verdict in the 1995 OJ Simpson trial. The case dominated news bulletins around the world and in the stand as an expert witness was Kiwi mathematician Bruce Weir.

DEOHS and Biostatistics Professor Lianne Sheppard doubly honored with endowed professorship and EPA committee chairship.