UW School of Nursing Resources – template: tailor to your specific grant
Updated February 2015
LABORATORIES
Biomarker Laboratories
Biochemical: The biochemical laboratory has the capacity to measure neurochemicals (e.g., serotonin, 5-HIAA,
catecholamines), neurotransmitter synthesizing and degrading enzymes (e.g., choline acetyltransferase), and
hormones (e.g., prolactin, growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, cortisol, ACTH,
melatonin). These assays are performed on various body fluids including urine, blood, and saliva from humans
and on fluids and tissues from rodents. The primary biochemical methods used are high performance liquid
chromatography, enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance (ELISA), chemiluminescent (Immulite), and
radioimmunoassays. In addition, there is a dry chemical lab, autoclave, and 170 cubic feet of -70 degree
storage space for samples for both archival and ongoing experimental studies.
Immunology: The Immune Function Laboratory performs assays to determine cell phenotypes, natural killer
cell cytotoxicity, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production. Equipment includes a Level 2 biological
safety cabinet, tissue culture incubators, refrigerated centrifuge, microfuge, compound microscope, inverted
tissue culture microscope, fluorescence microscope with digital imaging, Coulter counter, plate washer,
gamma counter (Cobra), -70° freezer, -20° freezer, refrigerators, liquid N2 storage tank, and a computer
terminal for analysis of FACS data. Researchers also use the autoclave and deionized water supply.
Molecular: The Molecular Genetics Laboratory facilities include: An ABI 7500 RT-PCR detector (Perkin-Elmer),
PCR thermal cyclers, Nanodrop DNA analyzer, refrigerated Jouan centrifuge with rotors for Eppendorf and
larger tubes, Kodak gel imager for CCD documentation, hybridization incubators for Northern and Southern
analysis (Robins Scientific), horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis units (BioRad), power supplies, and
computers for data analysis. Freezers, refrigerators, an autoclave and deionized water are available in the
adjoining laboratories. Additionally, the laboratory has a BSL2-level tissue culture hood and long-term sample
storage at –70 degrees.
Behavioral Laboratory
An Exercise and Cardiovascular (CVS) Monitoring Laboratory is equipped with components of a BioPac
physiological data acquisition and analysis system, Holter monitoring and analysis systems, a baroreflex
system, ambulatory skin conductance (Hot Flash) monitors, metabolic cart, ambulatory blood pressure
monitors, and respisomnograph system. For exercise studies, there is a Lifecycles treadmill, Quinton stationary
bike, Lifefitness Universal gym, and a rack of free weights.
A Life Fitness BOD POD Body Composition Tracking System is also available. This is an Air Displacement
Plethysmograph which uses whole-body densitometry to determine body composition (fat and fat-free mass) in
adults and children.
The exercise and CVS monitoring laboratory is designed to accommodate low-impact exercise and yoga
therapies in one large room. Adjoining small rooms, one for subject monitoring and a control room, provide
equipment for obtaining physiologic and observational (e.g. video and auditory) data. ECG carts are available,
and a washroom/changing room is located next to the exercise facility.
Computational: The computational laboratory includes workstations that support monitoring and analysis of
specialized heart rate variability/ANS data, recorded in a variety of formats, simulation, and specialized
statistical computation. There are two NCS-Pearson OPSCAN-5 mark-sense form scanners and associated
workstations are available to qualified projects and users. These scanners support high volume data input
devices for reading standardized preprinted mark-sense forms such as are commonly used in educational
testing and psychological assessment.
Sleep Laboratory
The Sleep Research Laboratory consists of a central monitoring and equipment area with three adjoining
private rooms and two bathrooms. Sleep can be recorded on three subjects simultaneously by means of the
Embla system with Somnologica software (EMBLA, Colorado, USA).
Actigraphs for recording physical activity (Philips/Respironics/Minimitter, Sun River, OR) and software for
scoring the data into wake and sleep stages are available. Ambulatory physiologic monitors (Minimitter,
Sunriver, OR) are available for simultaneous recording of physical activity, heart rate and body temperature.
Software is available for scoring the activity data for sleep detection, and for cosinor analysis to derive
circadian rhythm parameters of temperature data.
Clinical Studies Unit
The three clinical studies interview/exam rooms provide space for clinical research. Rooms are setup to allow
private subject interviews, examinations, testing or blood draws and collection of body fluids. A refrigerator is
available for storing samples for a short period (not to exceed 24 hours).
Animal Facilities
Animal facilities in the School of Nursing include an animal housing unit, an animal surgical area, and space for
behavioral assessments. These facilities meet the required standards of the UW Animal Care Committee and
the necessary accreditation standards.
STATISTICAL & RESEARCH DESIGN CONSULTING
Services are available for faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students in the School of Nursing through the Office
for Nursing Research (ONR).
Robert L Burr, MSEE, PhD, Bioengineer
Analytic methods: time series analysis, lag sequential Markovian analysis, causal models and
confirmatory factor analysis.
Research areas of special interests: Role of bioinstrumentation in complex research studies,
cardiovascular psychophysiology, analysis of dynamic signals and systems, role of technology in
nursing research, education, and practice.
Kevin Cain, PhD, Biostatistician
Study design and interpretation; advanced statistical analysis methods including logistic regression,
random and mixed effects models, survival time analysis, and generalized estimating equations for
analysis of clustered data.
Adrian Dobra, PhD, Professor, Statistics
Multivariate models, variable and selection, graphical models and social networks.
Barbara McGrath, PhD, RN, Research Associate Professor
Social and Behavioral Research in naturalistic and community based settings, qualitative study design
from conceptual phase through implementation: research problem definition, appropriate methodology
selection, data collection (interview, focus group, participant observation), data analysis/interpretation,
mixed method study design
Ken Pike, PhD, Research Consultant
Catalyst and REDCap survey design, statistical programming in Stata, panel and pooled time series
designs, structural equation models, multi-level modeling longitudinal analysis including latent growth models,
random and mixed effects models
Group Consultations (aka Modeling Parties) are designed to help faculty, postdoctoral fellows and PhD
students develop and critique grant applications. Reviewers are made up of faculty from the SON or other units
on campus who have experience with research design, analysis, the subject matter, and/or have served on
internal and external grant review committees. Whenever possible, a modeling party is led by the Associate
Dean for Research and one of the consultants from the Office for Nursing Research (ONR). The office also
assists the researcher by identifying potential reviewers to provide feedback and coordinating the meeting
time, place and any conferencing technology needed.
Joanne D. Whitney, PhD, RN, CWCN, FAAN and Associate Dean for Research is responsible for
overseeing the infrastructure for all aspects of research within the School of Nursing. She is available to
support researchers at every stage of the project development and implementation. She can assist individual
investigators with identifying facilities to house and support projects; networking within the School of Nursing,
the University, the greater research community; emphasizing the preparation of research grant proposals. D is
available to meet with researchers one-on-one to discuss the feasibility of an individual research project and
also assist in the development of the researchers’ long-term program of research and career goals. Through
the ONR, the Associate Dean also facilitates faculty access to resources that address issues in grant
preparation including, methodology, analysis, statistical methods, grant form preparation, and scientific writing.
COMPUTER RESOURCES
The University of Washington’s School of Nursing (SoN) technology needs are supported by TIER (Technology
Innovations in Education and Research), the SoN’s Information Technology support team. TIER offers a
hybrid set of IT solutions comprising services that are operated and managed internally combined with those
from University of Washington IT. This allows the School of Nursing to balance specific with generic needs,
leverage contracts that are University-wide and reduce operational costs. All computing resources are
accessible through the SoN network.
SoN information systems containing federal data are protected from unauthorized access by strong password
security policies. SoN servers support administrative, pedagogical, and research-related information
resources. The SoN server infrastructure is built on Microsoft technology. Microsoft Exchange Server is the
preferred method of email, calendaring, scheduling and administrative coordination. Microsoft SQL server is
the preferred database platform. The majority of SoN computer services are maintained and supported within
SoN, but extensive additional support is available from UW IT, the central computer service group.
The SoN maintains approximately 400 personal computer workstations on its managed Microsoft Windows
network across 7 locations throughout the greater Seattle area. Additionally, support is provided for remote
users in eastern Washington and internationally. Network security is in compliance with UW human subjects,
HIPAA, and FERPA standards. SoN workstations primarily use the Windows operating system and are
secured by a continually updated integrated firewall, antivirus software and a combination of anti-spyware
tools. PCs are networked either by high-capacity wired or secure wireless connections. Standard productivity
applications software such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and standard statistical
software are installed on all SoN computers. Secure file sharing and database services as well as advanced
statistical analysis software are provided by SoN-administered servers to authenticated SoN workstations. The
SoN manages and co-locates servers within a controlled access, high quality, high capacity server facility
maintained by UW Technology. SoN infrastructure staff maintains, updates, and troubleshoots these services
in order to provide 24/7 high availability. After-hours support is available.
The SoN’s two electronic classrooms are used for digitally capturing lectures and for interactive connectivity
with faculty or students at remote sites. TIER provides additional worldwide collaboration via the Web for
classes and conferencing outside of the electronic classrooms via Adobe Connect.
The SoN’s Center for Nursing Excellence (CENE) is a learning resource center serving faculty, undergraduate
students, and graduate students. It includes practice materials for the performance of nursing health care
therapeutics, specialized high-tech equipment commonly used in acute care settings, and interactive video disc
programs, video capturing and playback equipment, and a variety of patient care simulators.
http://nursing.uw.edu/academic-services/student-resources/cene-learning-lab/center-for-excellence-in-nursingeducation-cen
Computer Resources for Faculty, Staff & Students: SoN faculty and staff PC workstations can easily and
securely access both UW centrally supported, and SoN administered, research-oriented facilities which include
statistical analysis and data management packages, such as SPSS, STATA, LISREL, M-PLUS, Stat Transfer,
HLM, EQS. Qualitative data analysis packages currently available within the School include Atlas/ti.
Students in the SoN are expected to have basic computer competency, defined as a basic familiarity with
computers, use of the World Wide Web and e-mail, and word processing. The School of Nursing requires that
all students have e-mail and internet access for communication and coursework. Upon matriculation, students
are given a UW specific e-mail address and access to the UW intranet. Specific technology requirements for
students include a computer that can adequately access web-based course sites. Information on
recommended computer set-up is provided for students in the SoN Student Handbook.
SUPPORT FOR EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATORS
Departmental Support: The SoN Vice Chairs for Research provide support for faculty within each department.
They assist faculty with the development of grant proposals and provide mentorship as early stage
investigators develop research programs or senior faculty develop new avenues of inquiry. The Vice chairs for
Research meet with junior faculty to ensure that they are fully utilizing available resources in the School and
University, and that new faculty are adequately supported and encouraged in research career development.
The Vice Chairs are available to read and provide feedback on grant applications, posters, scientific journal
articles, presentations and other work that is vital to a researcher’s career.
School of Nursing: The School of Nursing provides on-going training to assist faculty and staff who are
unfamiliar with the grant cycle, regulation compliance, grant applications, progress reports, and different kinds
of sponsors. Training topics include: overview of the grant process, budget development, cost-sharing, human
subjects for applications, overview of the UW review process, resource and data sharing, software needed for
grant applications (such as endnote or adobe reader), reading funding opportunities, and many more. Training
is also provided whenever there is a major change in the application process (such as the transition to
electronic forms).
New/Early stage investigators are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the consulting and advising
services provided by the methodological consultants and the Associate Dean for Research (described above).
University of Washington: The UW offers its tuition exemption program to all employees. This program waives
operating fees for the first 6 credits each quarter. Junior faculty may augment their education as they or their
mentors see fit.
The research community at the University of Washington hosts a variety of presentations, supported by
schools and departments within the individual Schools of Health Sciences and the Institute of Translational
Health Services (ITHS), that highlight state of the art research done by UW and visiting faculty. This gives the
faculty a chance to view examples of completed research projects which may be relevant in their field or using
similar methodology. There are also more general presentations on obtaining funding, scientific writing,
statistical skills and other relevant topics that are sponsored by entities such as the University’s Office of
Research, the Center for Statistics in the Social Sciences (CSSS) or the ITHS.
All faculty at the UW are required to attend training on ethical research. All trainees have instruction in the nine
elements of responsible conduct of research (data acquisition, management, sharing, ownership,
mentor/trainee responsibilities, publication practices and responsible authorship, peer review, collaborative
science, human subjects protection, research involving animals, research misconduct, and conflict of interest
and commitment).
The UW Office for Research (OR) provides resources that are focused on supporting investigators during
applications and throughout the grant lifecycle. OR offers support for faculty who are seeking research funding,
including a database that catalogues thousands of funding opportunities. Their Office of Research Information
Systems (ORIS) is constantly developing new electronic tools to facilitate grant application, compliance, and
management. The office provides training on scientific writing, grants management, compliance, and other
topics via their webpage, through seminars and training sessions. (www.washington.edu/research/or/)
OTHER RESOURCES IN THE SCHOOL OF NURSING
Center for Research on the Management of Sleep Disturbances: The mission of the University of Washington
Center for Research on Management of Sleep Disturbances (UW-CRMSD) is to improve health, well being,
and quality of life through the enhancement of sleep quality across the lifespan. Over 70 million people in the
U.S. have some type of sleep disturbance and many are unaware that they have a problem. Sleep
disturbances most often manifest as disrupted or fragmented sleep and untreated could pose significant
daytime consequences and place individuals of all ages at considerable risk for adverse health outcomes.
The UW-CRMSD addresses the multi-factorial (e.g., genetics, environment, age/development) nature of sleep
disturbances as well as support the development of interventions to improve sleep quality that take into
account important contributing factors such as age, developmental transitions, and chronic illness.
(www.uw-crmsd.org)
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging: The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging honors Dr. Rheba de
Tornyay, Dean Emeritus of the University of Washington School of Nursing, and her lifelong interest in healthy
aging. The Center serves as a catalyst for promoting healthy aging through its support of research and
education in the field of gerontology for the School of Nursing, the University of Washington, and the broader
community. People are living longer and there is a growing awareness of the importance of enhancing these
added years for older adults, their families, and friends. The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is committed
to advancing and sharing knowledge about successful aging and ways professionals and systems can support
optimal experiences for older adults. (www.agingcenter.org)
Barnard Center on Infant Mental Health and Development (BCIMHD): The Barnard Center on Infant Mental
Health and Development is headed by Dr. Sue Spieker. The Center promotes interdisciplinary research,
education and practice and advances policy related to the social and emotional development of all children
during the first five years. Their goals are: to advance knowledge about infant mental health and the centrality
of early relationships to the healthy development of young children; to promote collaborative universitycommunity partnerships for infant mental health education and training, advocacy, and clinical research; to
offer educational opportunities in infant mental health at the undergraduate and graduate levels; to promote the
mental and emotional health of young children and their families through effective preventive approaches to
children's emotional, social and behavioral problems; to conduct longitudinal and clinical research on the
development of vulnerable children and effective interventions; and to devote special attention through
research, education and services to improve the social and emotional health of vulnerable children who
already exhibit developmental delays, and those whose families experience risk factors such as domestic
violence, extreme poverty, homelessness, absence of social supports, substance abuse or mental illness.
(www.cimhd.org)
The Parenting Clinic: An important long term goal of the Parenting Clinic is to promote emotional and social
competence and to prevent, reduce, and treat behavior and emotional problems in young children. The mission
of the parenting clinic is: to develop and evaluate comprehensive treatment programs for young children (ages
4-8 years) with early onset conduct problems; to develop and evaluate cost effective, community-based
programs designed to promote children's social competence and prevent children from developing later
conduct problems.
By preventing and treating early onset conduct problems, one of the most important predictors of later
development of violence and drug abuse, we believe we will prevent children from continuing on the trajectory
to drug abuse, school dropout, and violence in adolescence and adulthood.
Research indicates that aggression in young children is escalating — and at younger ages. Studies indicate
that anywhere from 7-25% of preschool and early school-age children meet the diagnostic criteria for
oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and/or conduct disorder (CD). These trends have disturbing implications
because the early onset of these problems is predictive of substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, antisocial
behavior, and violence in adolescence and adulthood. People with histories of chronic aggression that began
in early childhood are more likely than others to commit murder, rape, robbery, arson, and to engage in
substance abuse and violent acts. The problem of escalating aggression in young children is a universal
concern. (www.son.washington.edu/centers/parenting-clinic)
Promoting First Relationships Program: All children are born into this world are totally dependent on the
relationships they develop with their parents and their caregivers, the people who are closest to them. These
first relationships are the foundation for young children's development, particularly their social and emotional
development. Providers who work with parents and other caregivers of young children have a unique
opportunity to positively influence these first relationships. The Promoting First Relationships training program
gives providers the in-depth knowledge, tools, and strategies to do so.
Promoting First Relationships is a prevention program dedicated to promoting children's social-emotional
development through responsive, nurturing caregiver-child relationships. They train service providers in the
use of practical, effective strategies for promoting secure and healthy relationships between caregivers and
young children (birth to 3 years). (www.pfrprogram.org)
Stepping Up Program: Created by nurse scientists at the University of Washington and members of the
Washington State First Steps Team, Keys to Postpartum Depression offers a series of multi-media training
modules on Understanding and Treating Women with Perinatal Depression & Mood Disorders; Relationship
Focused Practice; and Screening for Perinatal Depression. Approximately 50% of women with perinatal
depression are never identified. The Stepping up program offers free public resources, developed under the
supervision of Professor Emeritus of Nursing Kathryn E. Barnard, RN, PhD in cooperation with the First Steps
program funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Medical Assistance
Administration. (www.steppingup.washington.edu)
Roybal Center for Translational Research in Aging (Linda Teri, PI): The mission of the Northwest Roybal
Center (NRC) is to improve the health, well being, quality of life and productivity of older adults with cognitive
impairment, midlife and older adults at risk for cognitive impairment, and their caregivers through the
translation of basic behavioral and social sciences research. The NRC is a consortium of clinicians and
researchers with a strong foundation of evidence-based research conducted via 20+ years of NIH-funding.
These multidisciplinary collaborations share a commitment to improving care through the direct translation of
research into practice. The aims of the NRC are: 1) Promote a shared commitment to and accountability for
translating, disseminating, and sustaining evidence-based programs to improve the health, well being, and
quality of life and productivity for older adults with cognitive impairment, midlife and older adults at risk for
cognitive impairment, and their caregivers. 2) Provide support (financial, technical, and scholarly) to pilot
programs that develop, implement, and evaluate promising social and behavioral research findings within
broad community-based settings to enhance the health, well being, quality of life and productivity of older
adults, and 3) Enhance and maintain strong interdisciplinary and interagency partnerships between
researchers, practitioners, and consumers to insure that promising avenues of research are translated into the
community expeditiously and effectively over the course of the NRC’s lifecycle.
(depts.washington.edu/roybalnw)
Other Resources at The University of Washington
Environment for Research, Community Resources: The University of Washington is located in King County, an
area of approximately 1.2 million people, and has an enrollment of 34,500 students. In addition to being the
major center for higher education in the Northwest, it has one of the largest research programs in the nation
and is well known for the excellence of its many graduate programs. The School of Nursing is organized as an
autonomous school within the Health Sciences Center. The research facilities of the School of Nursing are
extensive, and the Dean and the Graduate Faculty have made research and research training in Nursing
Sciences a priority. The SON has a history of conducting research in community settings and involving
community members in the design and implementation of research projects. Such activities should
demonstrate respect for the contributions of success which are made by community partners as well as
respect for the principle of “doing no harm” to the communities involved. In order to achieve these goals, the
following principles should guide the development of research projects involving collaboration between
researchers and community partners, whether the community partners are formally structured communitybased organizations or informal groups of individual community members. In order to avoid confusion and
potential misunderstandings, faculty and community partners alike are encouraged to explicitly review and
discuss these principles as they apply to specific projects.
Community-Based Research Principles
 Community partners should be involved at the earliest stages of the project, helping to define research
objectives and having input into how the project will be organized.
 Community partners should have real influence on project directionthat is, enough leverage to ensure
that the original goals, mission, and methods of the project are adhered to.
 Research processes and outcomes should benefit the community. Community members should be
hired and trained whenever possible and appropriate, and the research should help build and enhance
community assets.
 Community members should be part of the analysis and interpretation of data and should have input
into how the results are distributed. This does not imply censorship of data or of publication, but rather
the opportunity to make clear the community’s views about the interpretation prior to final publication.
 Productive partnerships between researchers and community members should be encouraged to last
beyond the life of the project. This will make it more likely that research findings will be incorporated
into ongoing community programs and therefore provide the greatest possible benefit to the community
from research.
 Community members should be empowered to initiate their own research projects which address
needs they identify.
Institute of Translational Health Services (ITHS): The ITHS supports translational research – research that
improves human health by leading to discoveries that will eliminate human disease. The research covers every
phase of translation: from initial idea formation; to the first testing of the idea in a cell, animal, or person; to
large scale clinical trials; to moving a proven idea into health practices, and encouraging its adoption as a
standard approach. ITHS facilitates links among researchers, within communities, and between researchers
and communities. The Institute also provides a directory of laboratory and clinical research resources across
the greater Pacific Northwest region.
ITHS also runs “The Portal,” a starting point for researchers who are initiating a new project. The Portal serves
as a liaison between researchers and translational resources, or among researchers from different fields. The
Portal evaluates project goals and provides information about: ITHS and institutional resources & services,
pilot and funding opportunities, educational programs/mentoring, collaborations, general questions about
translational and clinical research. (www.iths.org)
General Clinical Research Center: The University of Washington Clinical Research Center is a core resource
within the Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) that provides clinical research space and support
for investigators conducting research with human subjects. The mission of the CRC is to enable investigators
to conduct research protocols in the clinical setting.
The CRC facility includes: five patient care rooms (a total of 9 beds) for both overnight and day use; three
patient care rooms (a total of 7 recliner chairs) for day use; a multi-purpose room used for blood draws,
interviews; a consult room; a study staff room; a disability accessible shower/toilet; a clean utility and
medication room; a soiled utility and specimen processing room; a staff work room; a nourishment room / tray
hold area; and a conference room.
The CRC can conduct therapeutic trials, observational studies, feeding trials, questionnaire based studies and
even population based studies requiring high throughput blood draws and sample collection for research on
novel biomarkers. (www.iths.org/uwcrc)
The Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (CSDE): CSDE supports population research and training
at the University of Washington. It also functions as a regional center that gives population scientists at
affiliated institutions in the Pacific Northwest access to cutting-edge demographic infrastructure and services.
The core of CSDE consists of a large group of productive population scholars, with disciplinary homes in the
departments Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Statistics, Psychology, and
International Studies as well as the UW schools of Evans School of Public Affairs, Social Work, and School of
Public Health. Our faculty affiliates are highly visible members of the population research community. We have
drawn faculty into a cohesive research community anchored by a weekly seminar series, collaborative projects,
and shared use of state-of-the-art technical, administrative, and consulting services.
Research at CSDE continues to advance knowledge on the fundamental issues of demography—-fertility and
family change, migration, health and mortality—with new data, new conceptual approaches, and new
techniques, as well as to ask new questions about demographic behaviors and population outcomes. The
Center provides research support services and educational opportunities to its members through its graduate
student, postdoctoral and mid-career professional training; computer lab and services; administrative support
for grants, statistical consulting; library collection and information services; support in use of biomarkers in
research; working paper series; and weekly research seminar. (csde.washington.edu)
Center for Human Development and Disability: CHDD is one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive
interdisciplinary research and training centers focusing on a wide array of developmental disabilities. More than
600 University of Washington faculty and staff members, as well as numerous doctoral and post-doctoral
students, provide clinical services, interdisciplinary clinical and research training, and technical assistance and
outreach training to community practitioners and community agencies. CHDD scientists and clinicians also
conduct basic and applied research to generate new knowledge and disseminate information widely. The
center includes two major cores:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) studies
underlying causes of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, and develops behavioral
and biomedical techniques to prevent disabilities or minimize their impact. University of Washington
faculty members from a wide variety of scientific disciplines are appointed as CHDD Research
Affiliates. Supported by Scientific Core Facilities, they work in interdisciplinary collaborations to address
developmental disabilities from a broad range of perspectives, including genetic factors, neurobiological
processes, and behavior.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is part of the Association of
University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), established in every state to train professionals within an
interdisciplinary framework to meet the needs of people with disabilities, provide clinical services and
model projects, reach out to the community with technical assistance and training, conduct applied
research, and disseminate information widely. (depts.washington.edu/chdd/)
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute: The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute serves as a focal point for alcohol and
drug abuse research at the University of Washington and in the region, benefiting the citizens of Washington
State by expanding our knowledge and making information available to health and social service professionals
and policy makers. The Institute's multidisciplinary staff of clinical and social psychologists, sociologists,
epidemiologists, public health experts, educators, and librarians plays a key role in working to understand and
reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drug abuse. Dennis M. Donovan, Ph.D. has been the Director of the
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute since 1993.
The activities of the Institute may be described under three general headings: 1) Intramural research by ADAI
Research Scientists supported through federal, state, and other grants and contracts; 2) Stimulation and
support of research by ADAI Research Affiliates and faculty in departments throughout the University through a
Small Grants Program. Since 1973, ADAI has awarded almost three million dollars to researchers in 40
University departments, for approximately 300 projects. Many of those funded projects led to outside funding
for expanded research. 3) Dissemination of research findings through its Library and Information Service,
publications and presentations by ADAI scientists, web page, listservs, newsletters, and symposia.
(depts.washington.edu/adai/)
Center for Cost and Outcomes Research: The mission of the Comparative Effectiveness, Cost and Outcomes
Research Center (CECORC) is to discover the most cost-effective, evidence-based approaches to improving
the health of patients and populations, and to identify ways to put these improvements into practice.
CECORC’s primary emphasis is to evaluate medical devices, diagnostics and medical procedures. The
research group carries out this mission by conducting innovative research, participating in clinical, database,
other comparative studies, advancing the state of scientific knowledge through publications and education
initiatives, and improving methodologies for studying the costs, quality and outcomes of medical care.
CECORC investigators are committed to promoting collaborative, multidisciplinary cost and outcomes
research, and to providing opportunities for fellows, residents and students to participate in comparative
effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and outcomes research.
CECORC brings together diverse investigators who have a common interest in health technology assessment
and evaluating the value of medical technologies and procedures. Having a community of researchers and
shared resources most importantly enhances the ability of individuals within the group to obtain extramural
funding related to health services research in their respective fields. CECORC is a tangible center that has a
strong publication record whose investigators are nationally and internationally recognized for their research.
CECORC fills a much needed niche at the University of Washington and regionally with its focus on the
evaluation of medical technologies and procedures. Every Department and School involved with the health
sciences is a potential collaborator. From a health policy perspective, State and Federal initiatives are now
promoting comparative effectiveness and other type of health services research. In addition, private and public
payers are increasing their standards for organizations to demonstrate evidence of value and appropriateness
for medical products and procedures. Reimbursement policies are becoming more value-based, which directly
relates to the core organizational objectives of CECORC, i.e., developing, evaluating, and disseminating
evidence of value for medical technologies. (depts.washington.edu/ccor/)
Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health: Founded in 1995 under the leadership of Dr. David Eaton,
The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH) strives to understand and communicate how
genetic factors influence human susceptibility to environmental health risks. Researchers affiliated with the
Center focus on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying human variability in response to
environmental exposures. The Center fosters collaborations between a large network of investigators working
in toxicology, molecular biology, genetics, and environmental epidemiology, and includes a well established
Community Outreach and Ethics Core (COEC) that has been serving K-12 students, science educators, and
the general public for over twelve years.
The purpose of the CEEH is to provide an administrative infrastructure and technical support to foster
multidisciplinary collaborations between researchers. To this end, the Center is organized into seven Areas of
Research Emphasis (AREs). For the sake of clarity, faculty members affiliated with the Center are assigned to
the ARE that most closely represents their primary area of research interest, although many have interests that
cut across the various areas. (depts.washington.edu/ceeh/)
Public Health Genetics in the Context of Law: The Public Health Genetics in the Context of Law, Ethics, and
Policy Internal Advisory Board, a UW funded center focused on the integration of public health, genetics,
health sciences, and law, meets quarterly and provides a small-grant program. (depts.washington.edu/phgen/)
Harborview Medical Center: HMC is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and the only Level 1
adult and pediatric trauma and burn center serving Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The medical
center offers highly specialized services, such as trauma and burn care, as well as neurosurgery, eye care,
vascular, rehabilitation, sleep medicine and spine care.
Harborview received the 2007 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service in recognition of
the important role Harborview plays in delivering high quality health care throughout the community. In
addition, U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 America’s Best Hospitals ranked Harborview among the nation’s
top three hospitals in rehabilitation care and among the top 20 in neurology, neurosurgery and orthopaedics.
HMC is owned by King County, governed by a board of trustees appointed by the county and managed by the
University of Washington. It is one of two academic medical centers in the UW Medicine health-care system,
which also includes UW Medical Center, the UW School of Medicine, UW Neighborhood Clinics and Airlift
Northwest, an emergency air transport service that serves the region. Harborview has a specific mission to
care for the community’s most vulnerable patients. It also is the Disaster Control Hospital for Seattle and King
County. (www.uwmedicine.org/patient-care/locations/hmc/)
Clinical Nutrition Research Unit: The Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (CNRU) has been designed to promote
and enhance the interdisciplinary nutrition research activities at the University of Washington. By providing a
number of Core Facilities, the CNRU attempts to integrate and coordinate the abundant ongoing activities with
the goals of fostering new interdisciplinary research collaborations, stimulating new research activities,
improving nutrition education at multiple levels, and facilitating the nutritional management of patients. Core
facilities are available for use by Affiliate Investigators, who are broadly dispersed throughout several Schools
and numerous departments and divisions within the University of Washington. The goals of the core facilities
are: The physiological component of the animal studies core provides investigators with a comprehensive
state-of-the-art resource for energy balance/metabolic phenotyping in small animals, as well as consultation
and guidance in choosing among the methods; the genetics component of the Animal Studies Core provides
investigators expertise in genetic analysis of rodent models relevant to nutrition, obesity, diabetes or related
disorders; the analytic core provides investigators access to state-of-the art nutritional assays at a reduced
cost, and new methods development; and the Human Studies Core provides investigators with services and
facilities to aid them in performing patient-oriented research in nutrition. (depts.washington.edu/uwnorc/)
Northwest Lipid Research Clinic: The Northwest Lipid Research Clinic is a multi-disciplinary unit devoted to
characterization of hyperlipidemic disorder. The clinic is located at Harborview Hall, part of Harborview Medical
Center. The clinic can provide measurement relative to lipoprotein metabolism, and is an excellent resource of
development of studies related to gender and cardiovascular disease in women. Their services include
Lipoprotein and apolipoprotein measurements for single-center trials and Consultation, biostatistical and data
management services for nutrition research. (depts.washington.edu/nwlrc/)
Northwest Institute of Genetic Medicine: The Northwest Institute of Genetic Medicine is a collaboration of
Institutions funded by the Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund, UWMC, and Seattle Children´s
Hospital, which includes Group Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, and biotechnology.
The goal of the Northwest Institute of Genetic Medicine is to support translational genetic research by
improving access of clinical investigators to cutting edge human subject support, informatics and phenotype
definition, genomic technologies, and innovative genetic analyses. The Institute provides consulting, analysis,
an expertise support to researchers in addition to research seminars and funding for small pilot studies. Their
laboratory supports DNA extraction and quality control, statistical analysis of genotyping data, and DNA
sequencing. (www.nwigm.org)
Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences (CSSS): The Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences started
in 1999, with funding from the University Initiatives Fund. It was the first center in the nation devoted to this
interface, with the triple mission of galvanizing collaborative research between social scientists and
statisticians, developing a menu of new graduate courses for social science students, and putting together an
innovative case-based undergraduate statistics sequence for the social sciences. Research collaboration is
fostered in a variety of ways: through seminars, seed grants, the consulting program, the working papers
series, and the collaborative work of our core faculty. They also run a dynamic seminar series which features a
great deal of interaction and discussion, and is highly interdisciplinary in terms of both speakers and audience.
Seed grants have been awarded to jump start over 20 outstanding, mostly interdisciplinary projects featuring
teams of investigators from Biostatistics, Demography, Economics, Linguistics, Political Science, Sociology,
Statistics, and Microsoft Research. Several of these have already led to funded research grants from federal
agencies. The Statistical Consulting Service for the Social Sciences has been helping clients from across the
social sciences on campus and beyond, including the State's HEC Board and United Way.
(www.csss.washington.edu)
University of Washington Libraries: The University of Washington, one of the nation’s great public universities,
is committed to educating future global citizens and leaders, creating a vibrant intellectual community, and
linking academic excellence to cutting edge research through scholarly exploration and intellectual rigor. The
Libraries is deeply woven into this fabric of learning and discovery.
The UW Libraries ranks among the top North American academic research libraries by any measure. The
Libraries’ collections and services, physical and virtual, provide outstanding support for internationally
recognized research in more than 80 doctoral programs while also addressing the learning needs of more than
30,000 undergraduate students across three campuses. Students and faculty rank the Libraries as the most
important source of information for their work, and graduating seniors consistently give the Libraries the
highest satisfaction rating of any academic service or program. The Libraries was commended in the
University's 2003 accreditation review for its rich collections, well-qualified staff, and "exceptional service to
students, staff development, and a commitment to planning and assessment of service.” In 2004, the Libraries
were awarded the prestigious Excellence in Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research
Libraries.
Over the past five years the Libraries has developed a diversified approach to resource use and discovery
which can meet the needs of both new and experienced researchers. The libraries have created digital content
from the Libraries’ own collections and make widely available what had once been primarily “hidden treasures.”
Library facilities are being reframed as more flexible learning spaces—collaborative, individual study,
instruction, and café environments—to meet a variety of user needs. The Libraries has made significant
progress toward its goal of becoming a more user-centered, “any time and any place” library. UW faculty,
students, and staff enjoy access to a robust and growing digital library which directly supports their work.
(www.lib.washington.edu)