# Cancer Prevention and Control

> **NIH NIH S06** · NORTHWEST PORTLAND AREA INDIAN HLTH BD · 2020 · $438,580

## Abstract

Project Summary
Few studies of cancer prevention and control or of cancer etiology among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs)
in the US have included AI/AN people as investigators. AI/ANs in Principal Investigator roles in cancer research have
been particularly uncommon. Although many cancer control studies by non-AI/ANs in tribal communities have been
conducted with good intentions toward reduction of cancer incidence and mortality, they have often failed to achieve a
reduction in cancer-related disparities among tribal populations. This lack of progress is partly related to the many
challenges that 'outsiders' experience in working with AI/AN communities, including the lack of trust that may take many
years to establish. AI/AN investigators in key roles in cancer control projects are clearly needed to more effectively
address the cancer burden in AI/AN communities, both reservation-based and urban.
The rationale for the project is that well-trained AI/AN researchers will have cultural competency and will be viewed as
trustworthy and credible researchers by community members who will participate in, or be affected by, research projects
implemented by the AI/AN participants in this program. Not only are the trainees likely to be working and living in their
respective communities, but they are more likely than non-AI/ANs to know the indigenous language and are more
motivated to stay in their communities long-term. Building on our earlier success in this area, our aims are:
1) to recruit and retain 40 qualified AI/AN researchers who seek additional training in cancer control research and in the
implementation of cancer control projects;
2) to design and offer a tailored three-week cancer control research curriculum using experienced and qualified faculty
and consultants, leading to a capstone cancer prevention research project for each trainee;
3) to provide follow-up support, including field support, distance learning opportunities, and mentoring to the trainees
after they complete the formal curriculum in cancer control research; and
4) to provide cancer control research internships to interested trainees who complete the three-week curriculum, so that
they can master additional research skills relevant to careers in community-based cancer control under close mentorship.
Impact: Our earlier efforts, while showing measureable success among our graduate trainees, are simply not enough. We
need a larger federal investment in well trained AI/AN cancer control researchers who can bring scientific rigor to studies
they will design and implement in AI/AN populations, to improve cancer rates and risks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10015312
- **Project number:** 5S06GM123543-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWEST PORTLAND AREA INDIAN HLTH BD
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS MARK BECKER
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $438,580
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10015312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10015312, Cancer Prevention and Control (5S06GM123543-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10015312. Licensed CC0.

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