Research Projects | Center for Healthcare Policy and Research

Research Projects

Principal Investigator: Michelle Dossett, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

Leveraging Longitudinal Data and Informatics Technology to Understand the Role of Bilingualism in Cognitive Resilience, Aging, and Dementia
Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital/National Institutes of Health
Award Amount: $635,652
Feb. 15, 2023–Jan. 31, 2025

The Effects of Visit Characteristics on Patient-Clinician Interactions and Health Outcomes in Knee Osteoarthritis
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging
Award Amount: $1,612,607
Sept. 1, 2023–Jun. 30, 2025

Principal Investigator: Joshua Fenton, M.D., M.P.H.

Patterns and Trajectories Associated with Overdose in Patients Co-Prescribed Opioids and Benzodiazepines
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Award Amount: $1,050,000
Sept. 30, 2022–Sept. 29, 2025
Co-PI: Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc.

Rigorous Evaluation of California Policies to Disseminate Emergency Department-based Services for Opioid Use Disorder 
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Award Amount: $1,050,000
Sept. 30, 2024–Sept. 29, 2027

Principal Investigator: Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc.

A Multi-Team System Implementation Strategy to Improve Buprenorphine Adherence for Patients Who Initiate Treatment in the Emergency Department  
Sponsor: NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Award Amount: $1,005,183.00
Aug. 1, 2023–Jul. 31, 2025

Developing Evidence-Based, Guideline-Concordant Updated Patient Safety PDMP Alerts
Sponsor: Department of Justice
Award Amount: $1,000,000
Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2025

Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Hoch, Ph.D.

The Healthy Living Clinic Initiative
Sponsor: California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP)
Award Amount: $7,500,000
Aug. 10, 2021–Jun. 30, 2026
Co-PI's: Desiree Backman, Dr.PH, M.S., R.D., Neal Kohatsu, M.D., M.P.H., FACPM

Principal Investigator: David K. Johnson, Ph.D., M.A.

A Population-Based Latinx Community Study of Alzheimer's Disease 
Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center / NIH National Institute of Aging (NIA)
Award Amount: $98,647
Sept. 15, 2023–Aug.31, 2025

Pragmatic Testing for the Adoption of The Good Life Program for Healthy Aging 
Sponsor: California Department of Public Health
Award Amount: $2,302,996
Nov. 1, 2022–Jun. 30, 2025

The Good Life Healthy Aging Program to Prevent Cognitive Impairment in Diverse Veteran Communities; an Embedded Pragmatic Clinical Trial 
Sponsor: DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)
Award Amount: $1,000,000
May 1, 2024–Apr. 30, 2027

Principal Investigator: Courtney Lyles, Ph.D.

Remote Monitoring for Equity in Advancing Control of Hypertension (REACH) 
Award Amount: $2,242,806
Sponsor: NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Sept. 1, 2023–Aug. 31, 2026

Implementation Strategies for Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Populations (InS2PiRED) 
Sponsor: UC San Francisco / DHHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Award Amount: $109,429
Sept. 30, 2023–Jul. 31, 2028 

Comparing Hypertension Remote Monitoring Evaluation Redesign (CHARMED) 
Award Amount: $355,048
Sponsor: UC San Francisco / PCORI
Aug. 1, 2023–Jul. 31, 2028

Principal Investigator: Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H.

CalPERS Behavioral Health Timely Access to Care Study  
Sponsor: California Public Employees Retirement System
Award Amount: $475,000
Jun. 24, 2024–Jun. 30, 2026

Principal Investigator: Monika Ray, Ph.D.

Interpretable "Glassbox" Models to Improve Healthcare Outcomes for Patients with Neck or Low Back Pain
Sponsor: Yale University
Award Amount: $105,000
Mar. 1, 2024–Feb. 28, 2025
Co-PIs: Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP

Principal Investigator: Na’amah Razon, M.D., Ph.D.

Building Primary Care Workforce Capacity in the Dementia Diagnostic Process  
Sponsor: UC San Francisco / National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging
Award Amount: $65,155
Jun. 1, 2024–Feb. 28, 2029

Understanding the Health and Long-Term Supports and Services Needs of People with Dementia and Their Caregivers from Diverse Migration Experiences  
Sponsor: UC San Francisco / California Department of Public Health
Award Amount: $1,110,552
Jul. 1, 2024–Jun. 30, 2028

Principal Investigator: Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) FY 2023-2028
Sponsor: National Opinion Research Center
Award Amount: $1,899,012
Dec. 27, 2022–Feb. 20, 2028

AHRQ Quality Indicators (QIs) Analysis and Support 
Award Amount: $1,383,309
Sponsor: Mathematica Inc.
Sept. 27, 2023–Sept. 26, 2026

AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet)
Sponsor: Most Investments, LLC dba Pantheon Software
Award Amount: $1,594,686.72
Feb. 26, 2024–Feb. 25,2029

Medical and Audiology Expertise for California Children Services
Sponsor: California Department of Health Care Services
Award Amount: $597,960
Jul. 1, 2020–Jun. 30, 2025

Relaunching Cal Quality Care for Nursing Homes in California
Sponsor: California Hospital Assessment and Reporting Task Force (CHART)
Award Amount: $875,850
Jun. 1, 2021–Dec. 31, 2024
Co-PI: Debra Bakerjian, Ph.D. 

Principal Investigator: Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A.

CA QUITS 2018–2026
Sponsor: California Department of Public Health
Award Amount: $8,614,218
Jun. 20, 2018–Jun. 30, 2026

Improving Health Equity in Tobacco Treatment with a Population Health Management Strategy
Sponsor: UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
Award Amount: $371,327.00
Jul. 1, 2023–Jun. 30, 2026

Reducing College Tobacco Exposure Through Crowdsourcing-Driven Actions
Sponsor: California State University San Marcos Corporation
Award Amount: $266,409
Jul. 1, 2022–Jun. 30, 2025

Principal Investigator: Iraklis Erik Tseregounis, Ph.D.

Cross-State Validation of a Novel Prescription Claims-Based Model to Predict New Long-Term Opioid Use  
Sponsor: NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse
Award Amount: $173,286
Jul. 1, 2022–Jun. 30, 2025

Tobacco-focused Care Enhancement of Existing Inpatient Substance Use Treatment Services 
Sponsor: UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
Award Amount: $810,000
Jul. 1, 2024–Jun. 30, 2027

Award Title

Award Amount

Lead PI

Sponsor

End Date

Watchful Waiting as a Strategy for Reducing Low-Value Spinal Imaging $1,483,686 Joshua Fenton, M.D., M.P.H. DHHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Aug. 31, 2024
TO 4: 2021 Systematic Evidence Reviews to Support the USPSTF—Group A $241,428 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute Jul. 31, 2024
Addressing Emerging Health System Priorities in Cervical Cancer Prevention $161,235 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. University of British Columbia Jun. 30, 2024
Administration of The Good Life (TGL): Online Healthy Aging Program   $700,000 David K. Johnson, Ph.D., M.A. California Department of Public Health Jun. 30, 2024
Lifestyle Education to Promote Healthy Brain Aging in the East Bay  $4,800,947 David K. Johnson, Ph.D., M.A. California Department of Public Health Jun. 30, 2024
Offering Cessation Medications for Equity and Sustainability among Patients with Cancer  $20,000  Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison Mar. 28, 2024
Supporting Self-Sourced Medication Abortion: Mixed Method Analysis of Calls from a Clinical Support Hotline in the United States $50,000 Jennifer Karlin, M.D., Ph.D. Society of Family Planning Mar. 31, 2024
Societal Preferences for Access to Abortion Among Texas Residents: Capturing Tradeoffs Using a Discrete Choice Experiment  $26,144 Jeffrey Hoch, Ph.D. University of British Columbia Mar. 31, 2024
Patient Safety Measures $3,844,398 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences Feb. 24, 2024
Hospital-Level Quality Indicators (QIs) Analysis and Support $1,628,480 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Mathematica Inc. Sept. 26, 2023
Area-Level Quality Indicators (QIs) Analysis and Support Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Mathematica Inc. Sept. 26, 2023
Mandatory Use Law Surveillance and Evaluation $105,553 Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc. California Department of Public Health Aug. 31, 2023
How Provider Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes About User-Administered Injectable Contraception Shape Demand and Use $50,000 Jennifer Karlin, M.D., Ph.D. Society of Family Planning Aug. 1, 2023
Developing Patient-Level Risk Prediction Models for Prescription Opioid Overdose $2,481,590 Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc. NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Jul. 31, 2023
Prenatal Counseling for Postpartum Health—A Randomized Trial $374,033 Melissa Chen, M.D., Ph.D. UC San Francisco Jun. 30, 2023
SHOW.me.Health: A Digital Therapeutics Platform for Clinical Research $30,000 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Shriners Hospitals for Children Dec. 31, 2022
Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain With or Without Headache $464,494 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Yale University Nov. 30, 2022
Systematic Review of Stigma Against Patients with Substance Use Disorder $30,000 Elizabeth Magnan, M.D., Ph.D. Association of American Medical Colleges Oct. 1, 2022
A Patient Perspective on Value: Medicare's Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program $99,437 Jeffrey Hoch, Ph.D. DHHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Aug. 31, 2022
Hospital-Level Quality Indicators (QIs) Analysis and Support $1,628,480 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Mathematica Inc. Sept. 26, 2022
Area-Level Quality Indicators (QIs) Analysis and Support $361,251 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Mathematica Inc. Sept. 26, 2022
Developing Patient-Level Risk Prediction Models for Prescription Opioid Overdose $2,481,590 Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc. NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Jul. 31, 2022
Procalcitonin to Reduce Antibiotic Prescribing in Pediatric Pneumonia $6,159 Nathan Kuppermann, M.D., M.P.H. Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Jun. 30, 2022
Medical and Audiology Expertise for California Children Services $398,640 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP California Department of Health Care Services Jun. 30, 2022
Expanding Los Angeles County eConsult Cessation Services $2,060,766 Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Jun. 30, 2022
CalPERS Mental Health Access $125,000 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. California Public Employees Retirement Systems May 16, 2022
Tracking Tobacco Waste to Increase College Policy Engagement and Compliance $132,386 Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. California State University San Marcos Corporation Mar. 31, 2022
Community Dissemination Activities for Public Deliberation Study on Police Reforms  $20,000 Shani Buggs, Ph.D., M.P.H. California Wellness Foundation Mar. 31, 2022
UCD Sustainability Application $65,000 Aimee Moulin, M.D. Public Health Institute Mar. 31, 2022
Defining and Rewarding Computer Tomography Quality and Safety $361,251 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP UC San Francisco Mar. 14, 2022
CDI—Improve Information Transparency of Healthcare Pricing and Quality for Consumers $6,159 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP UC San Francisco Mar. 13, 2022
Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers During Pregnancy to Improve Dietary Intake and Increase Family Food Security in Households with Low-Income $6,159 Ronit Ridberg, Ph.D. UC San Francisco Jan. 31, 2022
Making the Case for Trees & Obesity in Low-Income California Communities $71,128 Desiree Backman, Dr.P.H., M.S., R.D. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Dec. 31, 2021
The Koa Family Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing a Community-Based Weight Loss Intervention $12,318 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. California Department of Social Services Sept. 30, 2021
Life Context-Informed Pre-Visit Planning to Improve Care Plans for Primary Care Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions $89,605 Melissa Gosdin, Ph.D. DHHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality  Sept. 29, 2021
Feasibility and Acceptability of Dispensing Mifepristone via Mail Order Pharmacy $173,051 Eleanor Schwarz, M.D., M.S. UC San Francisco Aug. 31, 2021
SpeakOut: Empowering Teen to Teen Communication about Highly Effective Contraception $274,974 Eleanor Schwarz, M.D., M.S. UC San Francisco Jun. 30, 2021
Bear River Land Use Plan Evidence Synthesis $246,247 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Bear River Land Holdings, LLC Jun. 30, 2021
Prenatal Counseling for Postpartum Health—A Randomized Trial $796,195 Eleanor Schwarz, M.D., M.S. PHS Health Resources and Services Administration  Jun. 30, 2021
Multidisciplinary Targeted 'Closed-Loop' Interventions with Primary Provider Education and Engagement to Achieve HCV Continuum from Identification to Elimination $163,219 Rebecca Hluhanich, Pharm.D. Gilead Sciences Inc Jun. 28, 2021
FireFly/UniCare Program Evaluation $65,195 Jeffrey Hoch, Ph.D. Catalyst for Payment Reform, Inc. May 31, 2021
Task Order 9—Systematic Evidence Reviews to Support the USPSTF $142,603 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute Mar. 31, 2021
Breast Cancer Screening Technology Systematic Review $122,481 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute  Mar. 31, 2021
Cost-Effectiveness of Contemporary vs. High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin in a United States Emergency Department $122,481 Bryn Elissa Mumma, M.D., M.A.S. Roche Diagnostics Corporation Dec. 31, 2020
Evidence Map/Associated Methods Project on Treatments for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer $1,412,175 Joshua Fenton, M.D., M.P.H. RTI International Dec. 15, 2020
Real World Effectiveness and Safety of Hysteroscopic (Essure®) Compared to Laparoscopic Sterilization $1,799,740 Eleanor Schwarz, M.D., M.S. Yale University Oct. 31, 2020
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Use of Permanent and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception among Low-Income Californian Women $7,500 Alexandra Calderon, M.D., M.S. Society of Family Planning Oct. 30, 2020
Online Training for Internists Interested in Offering Medication Abortion $7,500 Eleanor Schwarz, M.D., M.S. Society of Family Planning Oct. 14, 2020
Family Medicine Training Residents in the Education And Treatment of Substance Use Disorders $50,000 Alicia Agnoli, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.S. California Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Sept. 30, 2020
MIDS: Behavioral Health Measures: Development, Reevaluation and Maintenance $47,529 Glen Xiong, M.D. Mathematica Inc Aug. 24, 2020
Specialty/Subspecialty Expertise and Policy Development Support for the California Children's Services Program $399,648 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP California Department of Health Care Services Jun. 30, 2020
Preparation and Cleaning of OSHPD Data $23,454 Mary Claire Manske, M.D. Shriners Hospitals for Children Jun. 30, 2020
A Clinician Training Intervention to Improve Pain-Related Communication, Pain Management and Opioid Prescribing in Primary Care $393,768 Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc. NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse Jan. 31, 2020
Sacramento Mental Health Campus $82,159 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. California Healthcare Foundation Jan. 31, 2020
Task Order 7—Systematic Evidence Reviews to Support the USPSTF $48,257 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute Dec. 31, 2019
Adolescent and Young Adult Men's Pregnancy Intentions and Attitudes towards Contraception and Abortion $7,460 Sarah Combellick, M.P.H, M.A. Society of Family Planning Sept. 30, 2019
Tailored Activation in Primary Care to Reduce Suicide Behaviors in Middle-Aged Men $137,876 Anthony Jerant, M.D. DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aug. 31, 2019
PCORI Evidence Map Treatment for Early Stage Prostate Cancer $7,924 Joshua Fenton, M.D., M.P.H. RTI International Jul. 19, 2019
Harnessing Patient Narrative to Promote Opioid Tapering in Primary Care $204,476 Stephen Henry, M.D., M.Sc. NIH National Institute of Drug Abuse Jun. 30, 2019
Insulin Errors Project $500 Ashley Trask, Pharm.D. Digital Hospital, Inc. Jun. 30, 2019
A case-control Study to Identify Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for the Agency for Healthcare and Quality's Patient Safety Indicator 11—Postoperative Respiratory Failure $0 Jacqueline Stocking, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Mar. 31, 2019
Healthcare Cost Utilization Project $17,950 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP International Business Machines Corporation Dec. 26, 2018
Consulting Agreement #2018-001 $64,446 Jeffrey Hoch, Ph.D. Evidence for Healthcare Improvement Oct. 31, 2018
Medical Failure-to-Rescue $0 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia Sept. 29, 2018
Quality Measurement Tools $52,913 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Most Investments, LLC dba Pantheon Software Sept. 29, 2018
Building Tobacco Cessation Connections across Los Angeles County Providers $16,200 Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Jun. 30, 2018
Task Order 4—Systematic Evidence Reviews to Support the USPSTF $10,254 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute May 31, 2018
Medical Budget Analysis $35,600 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. California Healthcare Foundation Apr. 30, 2018
Biobehavioral Predictors of Fatigue in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients $15,268 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. UC Los Angeles      Mar. 31, 2018
Innovation Evaluation Center $0 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP UC Los Angeles Dec. 31, 2017
Impact of Cancer Communication Intervention on Caregiver Bereavement $856,356 Richard Kravtiz, M.D., M.S.P.H. University of Rochester           Dec. 31, 2017
Understanding Consumers' Views of Cost-Sharing, Quality and Network Choice $345,458 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sept. 30, 2017
Task Order 5, Evidence-based Practice Centers IV Program $7,595 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute Sept. 27, 2017
RCT of Patient, Caregiver and Physician Communication Coaching in Advanced Cancer $1,261,538 Richard Kravtiz, M.D., M.S.P.H. University of Rochester                                                Mar. 31, 2017
CalPERS Strategic Healthcare Measures Evaluation $88,000 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP California Public Employees Retirement System Dec. 30, 2016
N-of-1 Trails Using mHealth in Chronic Pain $1,987,901 Richard Kravtiz, M.D., M.S.P.H. NIH Institute of Nursing Research   Jul. 31, 2016
Protocol ML28690 Symptoms and Care-Seeking Behavior During Acute Stroke, A Descriptive Study $25,200 Patricia Zrelak, Ph.D., C.N.R.N., C.N.A.A., B.C. Genentech, Inc.              Jul. 30, 2016
Soliciting Stakeholder Feedback on a Secret Shopper Study of Medi-Cal Enrollees in the Sacramento Region $9,408 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. California Healthcare Foundation Jun. 30, 2016
Expertise on Performance Measure Methodology, Data Collection and Reporting $237,772 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP California Department of Corrections                          May 27, 2016
Risks of Long-Term Adverse Events In Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Adjuvant Chemotherapy $100,950 Joy Melnikow, M.D., M.P.H. National Cancer Institute                                      Apr. 1, 2016
Exploring Disparities: Urinary Incontinence Treatment-Seeking in Mid-Life Women $375,939 L . Elaine Waetjen, M.D. NIH Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases      Aug. 31, 2015
Exploring the Effects of Parental Deportation on U.S. Citizen Children $113,035 Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D. University of Texas-Austin   Aug. 31, 2014
Using NRT and Quitline Services to Help Hospitalized Smokers Stay Quit $150,159 Elisa Tong, M.D., M.A. UC San Diego                             May 31, 2014
Lumbar Imaging and Reporting Epidemiology $9,395 Nick Anderson, M.S., Ph.D. University of Washington                                              Dec. 31, 2013
Evaluating a Home and Community-based Medication Dispensing Machine: Background and Framework $21,582 Richard Kravtiz, M.D., M.S.P.H. California Department of Health Care Services Aug. 31, 2011
Analytic Enhancement of Quality Indicators $222,516 Patrick Romano, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FAAP Stanford University                                                   Nov. 30, 2004