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In the News

Headlines featuring UW Biostatistics people and research.
Close up of hand holding bottle of Moderna COVID-19 vaccube
Close up of hand holding bottle of Moderna COVID-19 vaccube
Antibody levels predictive of Moderna's vaccine efficacy -study
Reuters,

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.

Peter Gilbert
Peter Gilbert
Study showing antibody levels protecting against COVID-19 could speed creation of new vaccines, boosters
USA Today,

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.

Man standing on shore looking out at a sailboat on the water
Man standing on shore looking out at a sailboat on the water
Air pollution and dementia study
DEOHS,

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. 

Flow W graphic
Flow W graphic
UW to lead new NSF institute for using artificial intelligence to understand dynamic systems
UW News,

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.

headshot of elizabeth krantz
headshot of elizabeth krantz
New study finds many cancer patients have no antibodies to measles or mumps
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Hutch News,

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
Patrick Heagerty
20 UW researchers elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021
UW News,

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

Photo of Bruce Weir in garden
Photo of Bruce Weir in garden
National Portrait: New Royal Society fellow Bruce Weir on DNA and that OJ Simpson trial
Stuff (New Zealand),

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.

Lianne Sheppard
Lianne Sheppard
Safeguarding environmental health
UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences,

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