Welcome to the Web site for the Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH)

The RPGEH, a scientific research program housed at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, is one of the largest research projects in the United States to examine the genetic and environmental factors that influence common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma and many others.

The goal of the research program is to discover which genes and environmental factors—the air we breathe, the water we drink, as well as lifestyles and habits—are linked to specific diseases.

This new knowledge has the potential to improve health and health care delivery by leading to new and improved diagnosis and treatment of disease and even prevention of some disease. One day your doctor may be even able to make a health care plan just for you based on your genetic profile and life experiences. This could include early testing for the diseases you might be likely to get, prescribing medications that will work best for you, and recommending lifestyle changes that will help keep you healthier.

Building a Biobank

Based on the 3.3 million-member Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan of Northern California (KPNC), the completed resource will link together comprehensive electronic medical records, data on relevant behavioral and environmental factors, and biobank data (genetic information from saliva and blood) from 500,000 consenting health plan members.

In addition to learning more about the genetic and environmental determinants of disease, Kaiser Permanente research scientists, working in collaboration with other scientists across the nation and around the world, hope to translate research findings into improvements in health and medical care. We also hope to develop a broader understanding of the ethical, legal, and social implications of using genetic information in health care.

This website is designed to help you learn more about our program. If you have questions or need more information please contact us.