# Convoy: A Cultural approach of Navajo Youth to Biomedical Sciences

> **NIH NIH R25** · DINE' COLLEGE · 2024 · $269,394

## Abstract

Summary:
Project Title: CONVOY: A Cultural approach of Navajo Youth to Bio- medical Sciences.
Need Assessment: STEM Learning Ecosystems are localized multi-stakeholder collaborative networks
(MSCNs) that are “dynamic collaborations among schools, out-of-school time programs, STEM expert
institutions (eg., museums, science centers, and institutions of higher education), the private sector,
community-based organizations, youth and families”, and has been identified as one of the key sources to
harvest human capital and contribute to novel interventions through the development of advanced
knowledge. We will create a bridge between traditional indigenous knowledge and modern biomedical
science via “CONVOY”. Peer Groups: Numerous peer groups focus on the development of K-12 and
undergraduate research and education programs for underserved minority communities, but there are very
few who are focusing on healthcare and biomedical sciences. This proposed activity will provide the
students with health disparity-related research experiences, hands-on laboratory training, and other
educational and communication opportunities via Science Café and Health Fairs to prepare them for future
leadership and careers in healthcare, biopharma, and other associated professions. Proposal: “CONVOY”
project will bring together students from Junior high schools, high schools (mentees) and Diné College
(mentor avatars) in order to spawn their enduring curiosity in biomedical and health sciences — especially
among Navajo (Diné) youth and students from other underserved communities— while adapting the
concept of “near-peer” network to bring forward the local health issues to the open forums. Specific Aims:
CONVOY, identifies causal links between Indigenous traditional knowledge and modern science to achieve
four specific aims i.e., 1) Motivate Navajo high school and junior high school students to study and pursue
careers in Biomedical Sciences and related fields; 2) Nurture holistic practices that bridge the gap between
Navajo traditional practices and western medicine to develop a marketable land based solution, while
focusing on problems faced by local communities; 3) Prepare students to enroll in institutions of higher
learning and provide opportunities to earn college credit in high school through Dine College’s Dual
Enrollment Program for biomedical sciences, and 4) Develop curriculum for a 10-week summer program
to support activities by “CONVOY”. Expected Outcome: the benefits of the “Convoy” will include but
are not limited to: i) Development of a need appropriate support system (near-peer-mentorship) that will
serve as a main technical support for training and innovative research to help provide better healthcare
services, ii) Greater understanding of the local epidemiology of infections, diseases and health disparities,
iii) Increase local workforce development in several critical areas that have implications broader than
current COVID-19 pandemic or other infections...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10913303
- **Project number:** 5R25GM150141-02
- **Recipient organization:** DINE' COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Shazia Tabassum Hakim
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $269,394
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10913303

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10913303, Convoy: A Cultural approach of Navajo Youth to Biomedical Sciences (5R25GM150141-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10913303. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*