# Native American Research Internship (NARI) Summer Program in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

> **NIH NIH R25** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2024 · $108,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 In the United States, 30.3 million people (9.4% of the US population) have diabetes; underrepresented
minorities, such as American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN), have a disproportionally high prevalence of
diabetes (15.1% for AI/AN compared to 7.4% for non-Hispanic and whites). Eliminating health disparities such
as diabetes and obesity among AI/AN requires the identification, recruitment, education, and training of a
diverse group of talented scientists in the US. At the University of Utah, we have established a Native
American Research Internship in diabetes, obesity and metabolism related research the NARI-NIDDK
program. NARI-NIDDK was built on the principles of community engagement with Native elders, faculty, and
student guidance with the goal of increasing AI/AN representation in the biomedical sciences, specifically
diabetes-related research, and thus reducing health disparities that exist for AI/AN. NARI-NIDDK
undergraduate participants receive research, cultural, and professional mentorship and training with committed
community members and renowned scientists. To date, 21 participants representing 11 tribal nations, 14
colleges/universities, and 9 home states, have participated in the NARI-NIDDK program. All have successfully
completed the program requirements with 1 participating for 2 summers. Of the 21 NARI-NIDDK Program
participants, 6 (29%) are current undergraduate students and 15 (71%) have completed a bachelor’s
degree. Among those who have completed their bachelor’s degree, 14 (93%) have completed a BS degree
and 1 (7%) have completed a BA degree. No one has dropped out of college. To date, 7 (33%) participants
have worked in biomedical science fields as research assistants. Of the 15 NARI-NIDDK participants who
have completed their undergraduate degree, 9 (60%) participants are continuing their education in the
health/science fields: 5 were accepted into a graduate program; 4 were accepted into medical school.
We hope to continue the current NARI-NIDDK research experiences for NARI trainees in the field of diabetes
or obesity-related research. Our current NARI participants continue to report that diabetes and obesity were
the top health concerns of their families and the majority of participants have family members affected by
diabetes and obesity. Through this proposal, we will continue the existing NARI-NIDDK program to include
research experiences and educational and clinical outreach experiences in diabetes and obesity research
(NARI-NIDDK), two major health concerns that plague AI/AN populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10911908
- **Project number:** 5R25DK109894-09
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Maija Holsti
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $108,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-04 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10911908

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10911908, Native American Research Internship (NARI) Summer Program in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (5R25DK109894-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10911908. Licensed CC0.

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