Research Projects

CA-NARCH is committed to increasing the number of Native American scientists and health professionals engaged in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research. Research efforts are intended to:

• Reduce distrust toward research within the communities served.
• Ensure that studies are conducted in a culturally sensitive and relevant manner.
• Operate within the framework of an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Formed by the CA-NARCH team with inclusion of community members, the IRB oversees the efficacy and ethics of research studies.
• Operate under the advisement of the CA-NARCH Scientific and Community Advisory Board consisting of academic experts and community representatives.

CA-NARCH Funded Research Projects:

CA NARCH Student Development (PI: Stephanie Brodine MD): Aims to increase number of NA students that enter/succeed in academia in the sciences and health related fields. Creation of student pipeline and mentoring program.

Caregivers of Frail NA Elders in SD (PI: Mario Garrett PhD): Investigating how the burden placed on NA caregivers is lessened by factors relating to their resilience.

Other CA-NARCH related projects:

• Miha Nykmut (Living Well with the Help of the Creator): CA American Indian Palliative Care Education (PI: Diane Weiner PhD): Funded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation Community Grant Program. Incorporates anthropology, nursing, and public health research approaches in the creation, evaluation, and modification of pain, palliative, and end-of-life care training for health professionals serving CA NAs.
• Preventing Underage Drinking by Southwest CA Indians: Building Capacity (PIs: Roland Moore Ph.D., Dan Calac, MD, and Cindy Ehler, Ph.D.): Funded by National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under contract with Scripps Research Institute. Evaluate and assess underage drinking in 8-21 year old NA adolescents with the aim of intervention and reduction of underage drinking.
• Smoking and Tobacco Assessment in Native Diabetics (STAND) Study (PI: Deborah Morton Ph.D.): Funded by the State of CA Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP). Study of tobacco use patterns with tribal members and the development and implementation of a questionnaire of as well as the administering of blood tests to determine secondhand smoke exposure and type 2 diabetes status.
• AIAN Adult Tobacco Survey for Rural American Indians (Collaboration with IHC/CRIHB/RSBCIHI)