# Navajo NARCH Partnership

> **NIH NIH S06** · DINE' COLLEGE · 2020 · $711,281

## Abstract

Significant disparities separate Native populations from the health and health infrastructure enjoyed by the
general U.S. population. To develop culturally relevant approaches to building healthy communities, more
Native health professionals and researchers are needed for Native Nations to exercise their sovereignty, role
and responsibilities to achieve health equity. The proposed Navajo NARCH Partnership represents a
partnership and collaboration between Dine College’s Division of Science and Math, UA’s Mel and Enid
Zuckerman College of Public Health, Northern Arizona University’s (NAU), Department of Health Sciences and
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) to create public health training and research experiences for Navajo
high school students, undergraduate, and graduate students. The Partnership will also include Research
Investigators from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Northern Arizona University. The proposed NARCH
will consist of an administrative component to ensure the funding and coordination of all activities, a large
education component; one full research project and two pilot research projects:1) Evaluating the Impact of the
Healthy Store Initiative (Dr. Sonya Shin, BWH); 2) a pilot study of improving cancer care in Navajo Nation
utilizing community-based patient navigators(Dr. Sara Selig, BWH, Delvin Yazzie, Navajo Epidemiology
Center, Mae-Giliene Begay, NDOH); 3) a pilot study of understanding and assessing Navajo cultural resilience
(Sara Unsworth and Martha Austin-Garrison, Dine College)Aim 1: To develop AI/AN Scientists and Health
Professionals through a variety of educational programs to attract additional students to biomedical and public
health research, to enhance research skills and knowledge of undergraduate students, graduate students, and
Navajo health employees, and to engage students of all levels in mentored high quality research efforts. Aim 2:
To foster the continued growth of the relationship between Dine College and the Navajo Department of Health,
the College of Public Health at The University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, and to engage these partners in meeting Navajo community health needs. Aim 3: To
address the many health disparities between health indicators in Navajo communities and elsewhere through
support for original research, and for collaboration on use of research data and results to implement new
programs, seek new support, educate health researchers and professionals, and generate a truly Navajo
research agenda.
Relevance: To develop a cadre of AI/AN scientists and Health Professionals through projects designed to
increase the numbers of and to improve the research skills of AI/AN investigators and investigators involved
with AI/ANs. To enhance Partnerships and reduce distrust of research by AI/AN communities using the
Community Based Participatory Research approach. To reduce health disparities through the above fostered
activities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10003354
- **Project number:** 5S06GM123550-04
- **Recipient organization:** DINE' COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK C BAUER
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $711,281
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10003354

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10003354, Navajo NARCH Partnership (5S06GM123550-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10003354. Licensed CC0.

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