# Programs for the Training and Advancement of the Next GENeration of Native Researchers in Genetics, Ethics and Society

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA · 2020 · $106,670

## Abstract

The lack of American Indian and Alaska Native professionals in genomic sciences today highlights 
the tremendous need for effective training and research programs to prepare the next generation of 
Native students to be successful in their pursuit of careers in genetics research. Early and 
meaningful exposure to degree programs  and research experiences are critical for the inclusion and 
advancement of Native students in establishing pathways toward careers in genomics. The proposed 
Genetics and Ethics in Native Communities (GEN) Program is a five-year research and training 
program for undergraduate and graduate Native students interested in pursuing questions related to 
genetics, health and society. Our proposed program combines didactic and experiential training 
activities, together with Indigenous and community-based models of learning, as a means for Native 
students to directly shape the field of genomics in ways that promote the values and perspectives 
of Indigenous experiences. The four main components of the GEN program include 1.) an online course 
on genomics and ethics in Native communities; 2.) a paid fellowship program for Native students to 
connect with ongoing training opportunities and research experiences both on site and within a 
larger network of supporting institutions; 3.) a summer intensive field-based research methods 
course for individual student project development; and 4.) a biennial student research conference 
designed to showcase the next generation of student achievements in genomics research.

Central to our proposed program is the Genomics and Ethics Program for Native Students (GEN), a 
fellowship program designed to foster collaborative learning communities for the advancement of 
Native students in the ethical, social and legal implications of genetics and society. The 
fellowship is founded upon a community of learners approach that works toward the creation of 
sustainable, supportive learning environments for Native students by grounding all training 
activities in indigenous knowledge and methodologies, intergenerational learning, professional 
indigenous networks, and the value of social cohesion (Ball, 2004). A priority for this fellowship, 
and the entire program as a whole, is to provide Native students with opportunities to participate 
in community-based training and research activities that are grounded in indigenous experiences, 
which is why every activity offered as part of the GEN program is a collaborative effort between 
personnel at the Center on American Indian and Alaska Native Genomic Research (CAIANGR) and a 
network of Indigenous professionals, Native-serving programs, tribal leaders and community members, 
and fellow cohort members. A primary outcome of the proposed activities is the recruitment and 
retention of Native student researchers in the field of genomics and society, but we expect that 
this training program can also serve as a model for inserting Indigenous perspectiv...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9951082
- **Project number:** 5R25HG010132-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL G SPICER
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $106,670
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-14 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9951082

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9951082, Programs for the Training and Advancement of the Next GENeration of Native Researchers in Genetics, Ethics and Society (5R25HG010132-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9951082. Licensed CC0.

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