Public Health

Coordinating Centers

Coordinating centers are a key part of multicenter research initiatives; they’re centralized hubs that pool complex biomedical and administrative data from multiple research centers, then aggregate, manage, and analyze the data, and finally make the data accessible to researchers. Our management of National Institutes of Health (NIH) coordinating centers helps collate public health data to provide insights on a range of issues. These data have revealed how disparities in maternal health outcomes can be reduced, how environmental exposures affect human health over a lifetime, what research programs reduce HIV incidence rates in at-risk youth, and the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on community transmission and the blood supply. They have expanded the knowledge base on tobacco regulatory science, advanced evidence-based care to improve outcomes for persons with early psychosis, and so much more.

Disease Surveillance

Westat is committed to using our expertise in epidemiology, statistics, and public health to strengthen disease surveillance. Our efforts to monitor trends, identify sentinel events, and track key metrics provide decisionmakers with critical situational awareness. Partnering with federal and state agencies in fields ranging from infectious disease to substance abuse, we apply rigorous methodology to both traditional and innovative data collection and analysis, generating timely insights to support public health action.

Health Communications

What motivates people to improve their health? We employ a research-driven communications framework to create targeted messaging and successful campaigns to influence people to change their health behaviors. Our social marketing strategy and outreach plans, guided by data and best practices, include digital strategies, traditional and social media, partnership engagement, knowledge transfer, website and app development, and multimedia and data visualization.

International Health

COVID-19, monkeypox, Zika, and HIV are prime examples of how easily contagious diseases spread, with devastating impact on society, while nontransmissible conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes continue to be among the world’s most concerning health problems. We apply our expertise in health research to disrupt the impact of illness and contribute to a healthier world. Our research provides data that inform on many urgent issues, including how to reduce global HIV transmissions and improve treatment, and what services support international research on preventing and managing chronic diseases. We have delivered findings on how best to strengthen cancer research across Latin America and how to build a rapid research response capability to address emerging threats to the blood supply during pandemics.

Maternal Health

Maternal health is crucial for the well-being of individuals who give birth and their babies. Despite being a high-income country, the U.S. has a disturbingly high rate of preventable maternal deaths. Additionally, tens of thousands of women and birthing people experience severe pregnancy-related complications each year, which can lead to long-term health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health conditions. These challenges disproportionately affect certain groups, including racial and ethnic communities, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, and those living in underserved rural areas. Westat is committed to advancing maternal health through rigorous research and evaluation, technical assistance, and communications support. Our insights enhance policies and programs to increase access to high-quality maternal health care, improve care delivery, and ensure equitable and respectful experiences for all individuals during and after childbirth.