ANTHC NARCH 2025: Advancing Alaska Native health research priorities

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Since the first NARCH program more than 20 years ago, ANTHC has increased its capacity to conduct research and supports research in many ways, including a Research Services Department, the Board Subcommittee HRRC overseeing research review and approval, and the Research Consultation Committee providing input throughout the research design, conduct, and dissemination. Despite significant gains in research capacity and infrastructure the need for advancing tribal research priorities that are reflective of identified health research needs remains, especially as AN people continue to experience challenges to health and wellbeing. At the same time, there is an increasing demand for growing a strong and skilled research workforce from tribally recognized tribes as well as non-tribal members who are educated and trained in tribally-driven research. ANTHC is committed to being a NARCH Center of excellence that offers meaningful and intentional career development, enhancement and mentorship opportunities in conjunction with research projects that engage and partner with tribes and communities statewide through relationships that have been established over many years or newly formed collaborations. The research projects in this overall NARCH focus on the impact of a micronutrient on mental health, improving access to physical therapy through telemedicine and developing a culturally-grounded stress coping intervention to improve urogenital health outcomes. ANTHC developed the overall NARCH center to address tribal health concerns as well as gaps in research capacity, specifically training and career enhancement, incorporating indigenous ways of knowing with western research methods, mentoring networks, and continuing to do this important work in partnerships with tribal and tribal-serving organizations. The proposed NARCH Center leverages ANTHC’s strengths with the unique research needs and landscape of Alaska and expands existing partnerships to continue improving research, career development and capacity building efforts. Thus, the overall goal is continue advancing Alaska Native health research priorities through two Career Enhancement Projects (CEPs) and three Research Projects (RPs) in pursuit of ANTHC’s vision that Alaska Native people are the healthiest people in the world. To achieve this goal, we propose the following overall specific aims: 1. Increase career enhancement opportunities in health research for Alaska Native tribes and tribal members as well as those working with and for tribes or tribal serving organizations. 2. Conduct tribally-driven health research focused on addressing health outcomes in priority areas to improve the health of Alaska Native people overall.