The University of Washington’s Population Health Initiative has awarded six Tier 2 pilot grants to interdisciplinary research teams as of March 2025. These grants aim to support researchers in developing preliminary data necessary for securing further funding to expand their projects. The initiatives involve collaboration between faculty from seven different UW schools and colleges, alongside various community partners. Research topics range from injury prevention to enhancing economic support for domestic violence victims and addressing feeding challenges faced by autistic children.
As these projects have reached their midpoints, the teams are reporting progress across diverse focus areas.
Collaborative Care Model Evaluation
The first project, titled “Optimizing the Population Impact and Equity of Collaborative Care Delivery,” is led by investigators Anna Ratzliff and Elizabeth Austin from the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Their goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in addressing mental health within general healthcare settings.
The UW Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center has developed the CoCM Checklist to assess health equity in CoCM delivery. Recently, the research team created recruitment materials to engage over 133 clinic contacts and received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval on March 31, 2025. Recruitment efforts are currently underway, with 14 clinics successfully onboarded, representing 56 percent of their target.
Addressing Injury Prevention and Domestic Violence
Another significant project, “Piloting the Equity in Injury Prevention Toolkit with People Who are Unhoused,” is led by Barclay Stewart from the Department of Surgery. This initiative focuses on distributing the EQUIP Toolkit in high burn injury risk areas of Seattle. The team has partnered with outreach specialists to provide prevention education and equipment, while also gathering valuable feedback through interviews with unhoused individuals.
In a related area, the project “Exploring the Effectiveness and Implementation of Paid Leave Programs for Domestic Violence” aims to assess the effectiveness of state “safe leave” policies. Led by Avanti Adhia, this team has conducted a comprehensive policy analysis across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They are currently analyzing data to understand the relationship between paid family leave and domestic violence incidents during pregnancy.
Innovating Feeding Support for Autistic Children
The “First Bite” program, which focuses on training caregivers to address critical feeding challenges for autistic children, is being piloted by Brittany St John and her team. This initiative has exceeded recruitment expectations, attracting 12 participants for a 10-week caregiver education program. The program aims to improve child feeding outcomes while reducing reliance on direct feeding services.
With the first session commencing on October 6, 2025, the team has already seen significant engagement, with a 93 percent attendance rate among participants. Feedback indicates progress towards individual feeding goals, highlighting the program’s potential for broader application in clinical settings.
Advancing Mental Health Care Accessibility
Lastly, a project focused on integrating low-barrier, culturally responsive mental health care into community-based services aims to improve access for Somali clients. Led by Lesley Steinman and collaborators, this pilot study utilizes the Problem Management Plus (PM+) model, training local providers to deliver mental health support effectively. Recruitment for participants is set to begin in December 2025.
Overall, the progress reported by these research teams showcases the University of Washington’s commitment to addressing pressing health and social issues through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches. For more information about the Population Health Initiative’s grant program and future deadlines, visit their funding page.
