As a biostatistician and Senior Investigator, Dr. Vollmer conducts research in numerous areas including the non-pharmacologic control of blood pressure and weight and dental caries. Another longtime and continuing area of Dr. Vollmer’s research interest is the epidemiology and management of asthma and pulmonary disease. In addition to these areas of research, Dr. Vollmer leads a number of coordinating centers. In this role, he helps to steer the direction of multi-site trials and works collaboratively with other trial investigators to resolve complex protocol-related issues.

Dr. Vollmer currently is the Principal Investigator of two coordinating centers in the dental arena. These trials are examining two different ways to reduce cavities and involve a total of 1,750 patients in seven clinical centers nationwide. He is also the project director and investigator on several large multi-center trials, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This research explores dietary patterns, sodium reduction, and multifactor lifestyle interventions in relation to blood pressure and weight. In addition, Dr. Vollmer directs several studies focusing on the surveillance and epidemiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including the coordinating center for an international study of the prevalence and economic burden of COPD.

Dr. Vollmer received his PhD in biostatistics from the University of Washington in Seattle. He is an active participant in the Behavioral Sciences Assembly of the American Thoracic Society. He is also an associate fellow of the American Heart Association's Council on Epidemiology as well as an adjunct professor at the Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Vollmer has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific conferences focusing on asthma epidemiology. For many years, he has traveled the world teaching pulmonologists in various countries how to conduct basic pulmonary epidemiology.

E-mail: William.Vollmer@kpchr.org