One of the Institute's most seasoned biostatisticians, Laura Ichikawa is known for devoting thorough attention to all aspects of study design and data management. She contributes not only her expert analytical skills, but also a unique awareness of the big picture.

Ms. Ichikawa's extensive experience includes observational studies, randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, and multi-site analyses. Her research is primarily focused on breast cancer and bone health. She is a key member of the Group Health Breast Cancer Surveillance Project, one of five sites participating in the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. She also participated in collaborative research through the HMO Cancer Research Network, including a publicized 2004 study linking not having screening mammograms to late-stage breast cancer. Ms. Ichikawa is excited to continue her work in breast cancer research, including screening, treatment, and survival.

Ms. Ichikawa's research with Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) Senior Investigator Delia Scholes, PhD, on links between the injectable hormonal contraceptive Depo-Provera and bone density loss, made news in 2002 and 2005. Her work on bone health with Scholes continues with a new study of bone density changes occurring in adolescent and young women using oral contraceptives.

Ms. Ichikawa enthusiastically mentors biostatistics students at the University of Washington. She is a member of the American Statistical Association (ASA) and its Puget Sound chapter.

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Recent publications

Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Ichikawa L, Avins AL, Delaney K, Barlow WE, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. Treatment expectations and preferences as predictors of outcome of acupuncture for chronic back pain. Spine. 2010 Jul 1;35(15):1471-7. Epub 2010 Jun 8. PubMed

Ichikawa LE, Barlow WE, Anderson ML, Taplin SH, Geller BM, Brenner RJ. Time trends in radiologists' interpretive performance at screening mammography from the community-based Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, 1996-2004. Radiology. 2010 Jul;256(1):74-82. Epub 2010 May 26. PubMed

Phipps AI, Ichikawa L, Bowles EJ, Carney PA, Kerlikowske K, Miglioretti DL, Buist DS. Defining menopausal status in epidemiologic studies: a comparison of multiple approaches and their effects on breast cancer rates. Maturitas. 2010 May 20 [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

Beasley JM, Ichikawa LE, Ange BA, Spangler L, LaCroix AZ, Ott SM, Scholes D. Is protein intake associated with bone mineral density in young women? Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1311-6. Epub 2010 Mar 10. PubMed

Ludman EJ, Ichikawa LE, Simon GE, Rohde P, Arterburn D, Operskalski BH, Linde JA, Jeffery RW. Breast and cervical cancer screening specific effects of depression and obesity. Am J Prev Med. 2010 Mar;38(3):303-10. PubMed

Ludman E, Simon GE, Ichikawa LE, Operskalski BH, Arterburn D, Linde JA, Jeffery RW, Rohde P, Finch EA. Does depression reduce the effectiveness of behavioral weight loss treatment? Behav Med. 2010;35(4):126-34. PubMed

Scholes D, Ichikawa L, LaCroix AZ, Spangler L, Beasley JM, Reed S, Ott SM. Oral contraceptive use and bone density in adolescent and young adult women. Contraception. 2010 Jan;81(1):35-40. PubMed

Sherman KJ, Hawkes RJ, Ichikawa L, Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Avins AL, Khalsa PS. Comparing recruitment strategies in a study of acupuncture for chronic back pain. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2009 Oct 27;9:69. PubMed

Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Ichikawa L, Avins AL, Barlow WE, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. Characteristics of patients with chronic back pain who benefit from acupuncture. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009;10(1):114. PubMed

Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, Erro JH, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE, Delaney K, Hawkes R, Hamilton L, Pressman A, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(9):858-66. PubMed

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