NIH Letter to Tribal Leaders


NIH Letter to Tribal Leaders

Vacancies open for nomination include a primary delegate and an alternate from each of the following areas:

  • Albuquerque (Delegate and Alternate)
  • Billings (Alternate)
  • California (Alternate)
  • Great Plains (Alternate)
  • Oklahoma (Alternate)
  • Phoenix (Delegate and Alternate)
  • National At-Large Member (5 Alternates)

Each area representative must be an elected official or a tribal employee, who is designated to act on behalf of a tribal leader.

Nominations should be submitted no later than February 24, 2017.

More information about the NIH TAC and the nominations process can be found at https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/thro.


National Film Challenge flyer - Click to view the PDF

Announcement of Requirements and Registration for “Storytelling about Health and Wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities” Challenge

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, the Tribal Health Research Office in announces the “Storytelling about Health and Wellness in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities” Challenge. The goal of this Challenge is to develop a brief digital story (i.e., a video) that communicates how traditions and heritage promote health in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).

Read more...

 


November 10, 2016 – Letter from the Director

Dear NIH Staff,

Each November, I have the distinguished honor of leading the National Institutes of Health in its celebration of National Native American Heritage Month.  This month recognizes the intertribal cultures of Native Americans and reminds us that the diverse histories and traditions of American Indian and Alaska Native people play a vital role in strengthening families and communities.

This year’s theme, “Guiding Our Destiny with Traditions and Heritage: Leading the Way to Healthier Nations,” is a forward-looking reflection on these important cultures.  Native Americans encompass people who identify as the indigenous people of this nation—American Indians, Alaska Natives, and hundreds of tribal nations and ethnic groups found within the United States.  Currently, there are 567 federally recognized tribes, with over 6.6 million people who identified as partly or completely American Indian or Alaska Native, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  But “Native American” goes beyond how people identify as the nation’s earliest occupants; it describes a rich heritage, a respect for and coexistence with the environment, and centuries-old traditions that are passed down through the generations by storytelling.

I have been deeply touched by my interactions with NIH’s tribal partners.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to them for sharing their stories and testimony on health disparities and for their insights on the research supported by the NIH.  The mission of the NIH, to gather knowledge that helps people get healthy and stay well, is particularly critical to reducing health disparities in Native Americans.  These populations have long experienced higher rates of diabetes, chronic liver disease, certain cancers, substance abuse, suicide, and other conditions when compared to the nation as a whole.  Leading the way to a healthier nation will mean continuing our thriving partnership with tribal communities and moving a research agenda forward together.

This month, the NIH will release an opportunity for tradition and heritage to guide the agency’s important work.  We are asking individuals and communities to create digital stories about health and wellness research in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The goal is to develop a series of brief videos that communicate—through storytelling—how NIH-supported research improves the health of tribal populations. The videos will augment the NIH’s ongoing efforts to inform a strengthened research portfolio that advances the research needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives. And, beginning yesterday, we launched a month-long Twitter effort (https://twitter.com/NIH_EDI).

I invite the entire NIH community to join with me in Leading the Way to Healthier Nations.  Together, we can guide a healthier destiny by celebrating the traditions, heritage, and achievements made by Native Americans.  For more information, you may contact Ashley Wells, Strategist for the Native American Portfolio, at Ashley.wells@nih.gov or 301-827-9359.

Sincerely yours,

Francis. S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director

 


Videos now available

Videocast links for the February 25-26, 2015 and September 15-16, 2016 Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) Meetings have been posted.

 


Report posted

The NIH Report on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Activities is generated each year by NIMHD, using trans-NIH data. The report contains information about 75 activities NIH supported during Fiscal Year 2015. These are selected highlights from the NIH AI/AN portfolio including research to study health disparities experienced by AI/AN groups; prevention activities intended to reduce the burdens of suicide, alcohol abuse, and substance use and abuse; outreach to Tribes; research opportunities provided to AI/AN students; and more. This report is now available here and in the Additional Policies and Resources section.

 


Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee Nominations for New Members Requested

NIH Tribal Leader Letter

Vacancies open for nomination include a primary delegate and an alternate from each of the following areas:

  • Albuquerque (Delegate and Alternate)
  • Billings (Delegate and Alternate)
  • California (Delegate and Alternate)
  • Oklahoma (Alternate)
  • Phoenix (Delegate and Alternate)
  • National At-Large Member (2 Delegates and 3 Alternates)

Each area representative must be an elected official or a tribal employee, who is designated to act on behalf of a tribal leader.

Nominations should be submitted no later than October 28, 2016.

More information about the NIH TAC and the nominations process can be found at https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/thro.

 


National Meeting on Precision Medicine & Cancer in AMERICAN INDIAN & ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES - Save the Date: November 10 2016National Meeting on Precision Medicine & Cancer in
​AMERICAN INDIAN & ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES

Precision medicine is an emerging approach for cancer and chronic disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, tissue and tumor profiles, environment, and lifestyle for each person. Many American Indian and Alaska Native communities suffer disproportionately from cancer. To understand how research and precision medicine can inform cancer needs in these communities the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma will host a meeting to dialogue with researchers and community partners in Oklahoma City, OK, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016.

WHEN  Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, 7:30 am to 3 pm; Pre-conference dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 pm 
WHERE  Samis Education Center, Oklahoma Health Center Campus
WHO  Hosted by the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma with remarks by Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) and Dr. Douglas Lowy, Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute

GUEST SPEAKERS include Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) and Dr. Douglas Lowy, Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute.  
AUDIENCE Due to broad interest, the invitees are expanded to include cancer center directors, cancer program directors, cancer researchers, tribal and AI/AN partners and communities.

Learn more at: stephensoncancercenter.org/nationalmeeting


September 2016 Tribal IRB Webinar

September 2016 Tribal IRB Webinar - September 20, 2016 - 1:00-2:30 PM ET

What will I learn?
After attending this webinar, attendees will:

  • Appreciate the unique and vital role review by tribes and review by tribally-based IRBs plays in research with AI/AN tribes, communities, and individuals
  • Understand the potential impact of single IRB policies on tribally based review, and the potential impact of tribally based review on single IRB policies
  • Be better equipped to engage in a dialogue about preserving local review via the exceptions clauses

Who should attend?
This intermediate-level webinar will benefit IRB professionals, IRB members, and researchers who are currently responsible for reviewing and conducting research with AI/AN communities, as well as those who may review this type of research in the future. This webinar will also be of interest to program officers from funding agencies and those involved with granting exceptions under single IRB policies.

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