Biography

Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH, is a cardiovascular epidemiologist and Assistant Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) who works to improve the understanding of cardiovascular event risk in relation to a variety of risk factors, with a focus on modifiable factors. In particular, her research focuses on cardiovascular risk among older women and on risk factors associated with incident and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), blood clots occurring predominantly in the veins of the legs or lungs.

VTE is the third most common cardiovascular diagnosis in the United States, yet there is more to understand about its etiology and prevention. Thus, Dr. Harrington’s work currently aims to improve health by furthering our knowledge of the etiology, prevention, and treatment of these events.

In August 2018, Dr. Harrington joined KPWHRI, where she is leading research as part of a career development award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to evaluate the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and VTE risk. She is using data from the Women’s Health Initiative, the Nurses’ Health Study, and interview data collected directly from KP Washington enrollees, as part of the Research about Venous Events (RaVE) study, to improve the understanding of how physical activity and sedentary behavior are associated with the risk of a first VTE, as well as health after someone has experienced a VTE.

Before joining KPWHRI, Dr. Harrington completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology in the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition, a PhD in epidemiology at the University of Washington, and an MPH in epidemiology at the University of Michigan. She conducts epidemiologic research using a variety of data sources, including the integrated health care delivery system-based Heart and Vascular Health Study, the Women’s Health Initiative, the Cardiovascular Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Studies I and II, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Adult Changes in Thought Study.

Dr. Harrington is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, where she enjoys guest lecturing and mentoring students.