# Alaska Indigenous Research Program: Promoting Resilience, Health and Wellness

> **NIH NIH S06** · ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM · 2021 · $342,398

## Abstract

Project Abstract 
The goal of this collaborative Capacity Building Project between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium 
(ANTHC) and Alaska Pacific University (APU) is to develop a three-week credit bearing Alaska Indigenous 
Research Program hosted on the APU campus in Anchorage, Alaska. The objective is to offer an Alaska- 
based research training program with tracks for Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) college students, as 
well as non-Native or Western-trained researchers and health professionals, to strengthen the capacity to 
conduct culturally responsive and respectful health research that addresses the unique setting and health 
needs of Alaska Native (AN) Peoples. One track will be designed for AN/AI college students and aspiring 
AN/AI health scientists. Example courses include, but are not limited to, introduction to research methodologies 
and design, data analysis, writing and presenting results, public health principles, epidemiology, and 
biostatistics. Participants in this track will have the opportunity to apply for research internship opportunities at 
ANTHC for five weeks following the summer research program to gain hands-on research experience. The 
second track will be designed for health researchers/investigators, health scientists, or health professionals 
with courses on culturally responsive research methods, including the importance of Community Based 
Participatory Research (CBPR) practices, understanding cultural worldviews through the eyes of AN Peoples, 
and the significance of community engagement and culturally responsive communication. The research 
program will also cover the history of trauma and research mistrust. A joint track will include courses on human 
subject research principles, ethics (Institutional Review Boards), and tribal review processes in Alaska. All 
Indigenous Research Program participants (college students and researchers) will be assigned a mentor who 
will work with them to develop a training and mentorship plan. The long-term goal of the proposed project is to 
integrate the Alaska Indigenous Research Program as an accredited certificate program within APU. The 
proposed Capacity Building Project is innovative in that it will offer cross-cultural research education and 
experience, rather than only focusing on training and educating AN/AI students in Western research practices, 
as it also aims to increase the cultural competency of health researchers and scientists by emphasizing the 
importance of conducting research in collaboration with AN/AI communities in a Tribally-driven and culturally 
responsive and respectful manner. It aligns with the NARCH program research objective of building 
research infrastructure to foster opportunities that enhance the cadre of students and faculty in health related 
fields by strengthening the research capabilities of AN/AI communities and their research faculty.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10226061
- **Project number:** 5S06GM127911-04
- **Recipient organization:** ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM
- **Principal Investigator:** Cornelia M Jessen
- **Activity code:** S06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $342,398
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-06 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10226061

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10226061, Alaska Indigenous Research Program: Promoting Resilience, Health and Wellness (5S06GM127911-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10226061. Licensed CC0.

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