Tribal Health Research Office

NIH Tribal Consultations and Listening Session at the 2026 National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Annual Convention

NIH will hold two Tribal Consultations and a Tribal listening session during the NCAI 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Palm Springs, California.

The 28th HHS Tribal Budget Consultation, April 21-22, 2026

The Annual Tribal Budget Consultations provides a forum for tribes to collectively share their views and priorities with HHS officials on national health and human services funding priorities and make recommendations for the Department's FY 2028 budget request. The event will be livestreamed at:

28th Annual HHS Tribal Budget Consultation

• April 21, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

28th Annual HHS Tribal Budget Consultation

• April 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT

NIH Director Participates in HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., joined other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Operating Division Directors for a meeting with the HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) in Aquinnah, Massachusetts. Dr. Bhattacharya reiterated his commitment to advancing the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities across the United States, explaining that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working toward a unified strategy that aligns its priorities and funding across all 27 Institutes and Centers.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also participated in the STAC meeting, reaffirming his commitment to Tribal communities.

Read the full summary.

NIH Tribal Advisory Committee Engagement with NIH Director and ICO Leadership on Native Health Research at the 2025 Annual Meeting

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) convened its latest in person meeting in August 2025 in Bethesda, Maryland, and virtually. The meeting brought together TAC members and NIH leadership and staff to facilitate meaningful input on NIH policies, programs, and priorities that affect American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. 

The 2-day meeting featured dialogue on critical topics, including Tribal research ethics and protections; institutional review board processes and research ethics; engagement with NIH’s Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs); Tribal data sovereignty; the NIH unified strategy; and AI/AN research programs. Additionally, the day before the meeting, NIH held the Indigenous Data Sovereignty Policy Tribal Listening Session to gather feedback and recommendations from TAC members on the policy, which is under development.

Read the full summary.