Next steps for the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank

We founded the KP Research Bank with a vision for the future of genomics research within Kaiser Permanente. As we begin our second decade, it is highly gratifying to see the signs of our progress and to share them with you.

We are well underway collecting new blood samples from participants who provided a first blood or saliva sample more than 5 years ago, which will help researchers understand how environmental exposure and lifestyle factors affect health over time. We truly appreciate the positive response we’ve received so far from participants who are willing to provide new samples to the Research Bank.

We’re also very pleased to tell you about our updated KP Research Bank website. Until recently, one of the primary goals of the website was providing information to Kaiser Permanente members who might be interested in participating in the Research Bank. While the website still offers a way for new participants to enroll in the Research Bank, its content is now more focused on what the Research Bank has accomplished and providing more information for researchers who might want to use the resource.

In this newsletter, we’re happy to introduce you to Alex Lituev, the director of the KP Research Bank laboratory where all samples are received, processed, and made available for scientific research. We’re also pleased to highlight recent research based on KP Research Bank data on heart disease and polygenic risk scores.

Thank you again for your ongoing participation and support. We look forward to our continuing work together. My colleagues and I hope you have a good holiday season and new year.

Devin Absher, PhD
Vice President,
Kaiser Permanente Research