Research

Research Areas

The Oregon institute of Occupational Health Sciences, has 5 main research themes or directions that respond to our mission. They are listed below.

Total Worker Health

Oregon Healthy Workforce Center (OHWC) faculty and other Occupational Health Sciences faculty are developing, testing, and disseminating programs that integrate occupational safety, health, and well-being by addressing organizational factors like work safety practices, effective supervision, and employee lifestyles.  This includes vulnerable workers, including young workers, agriculture workers and solitary workers, have special problems that may contribute disproportionately to Workers' Compensation costs. Institute scientists are developing unique programs to address their needs and prevent adverse consequences.

Click on these links to learn about our research on Total Worker Health:

WK Anger, PhD, Associate Director and Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences Emily (Yueng-hsiang) Huang Ryan Olson, PhD, Associate Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences  Dede Montgomery, MS, CIH, Senior Research Associate, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences   Leslie B. Hammer, PhD, Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences David Hurtado, ScD, Assistant Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesSteven A Shea, PhD, Director and Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesDr. Hill's lab page coming soon!Dr. Thosar's lab page coming soon!

Sleep and Shiftwork: Impact on Health and Safety

 Adequate sleep is not only essential for our safety and productivity but also for our overall well-being and health. At the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, we are developing a research program to study common sleep problems and to implement solutions, ranging from screening for and treating sleep disorders, educating communities and workforces about 'sleep health', to implementing interventions designed to improve sleep, safety, productivity and overall health in the workplace. 

Click on these links to learn about our research on Sleep and Shiftwork: 

Steven A Shea, PhD, Director and Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesCharles Allen, PhD, Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesNicole Bowles, PhDMatt Butler, PhD, Assistant Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesDoris Kretzschmar, PhD, Associate Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesAndrew McHill, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences
 Dr. Thosar's lab page coming soon!   

Genome Instability and Human Disease

Our researchers are using cutting edge science to characterize the adverse effects of occupational exposures, determine the mechanisms by which these exposures produce adverse effects, and apply that information to develop specific worker training and other innovative strategies to help prevent the exposures in the first place and to reduce the adverse consequences if exposures do occur.

Click on these links to learn about our research on genome instability and human disease:

Doris Kretzschmar, PhD, Associate Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesR Stephen Lloyd, PhD, Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesAmanda K McCullough, PhD, Associate Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesMitchell Turker, PhD, JD, Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health SciencesDr. Rao's lab page coming soon!Caren Weinhouse, PhD

      

Injury, Treatment, Recovery and Prevention

Physical injury is the largest contributor to workers' compensation costs in Oregon. To reduce this burden on worker wellness and productivity, Center scientists are conducting innovative research on the causes, treatment, recovery and prevention of workplace injuries. 

Click on these links to learn about our research on Injury: 

Ryan Olson, PhD, Associate Professor, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences

   

Outreach, Education and Dissemination

We provide resources and educational opportunities on relevant and emerging workplace safety and health issues.  We're also improving the health, safety, and well-being of workers through effectiveness research, collaboration with partner organizations, and dissemination of evidence-based programs.  

Faculty Laboratories

Charles Allen, PhD: Sleep and Shiftwork: Impact on Health Safety and Productivity WK Anger, PhD: Total Worker Health Matthew Butler, PhD: Sleep and Shiftwork: Impact on Health, Safety and Productivity Leslie B. Hammer, PhD: Total Worker Health, Strategies and Solutions for Vulnerable Workers David Hurtado, ScD: Total Worker Health, Strategies and Solutions for Vulnerable Workers Doris Kretzschmar, PhD: Exposure: Consequences and Prevention, Sleep and shiftwork: Impact on health, safety and productivity R Stephen Lloyd, PhD: Exposure, Consequences and Prevention Amnada McCullough, Ph.D. Dr. McHill's lab page coming soon! Ryan Olson, PhD Dr. Rao's lab page coming soon! Steven A Shea, PhD: Sleep and Shiftwork: Impact on Health, Safety and Productivity Dr. Thosar's lab page coming soon! Mitchell Turker, PhD, JD: Exposure Consequences and Prevention Dr. Weinhouse's lab page coming soon!