Northwest Native American Research Center For Health (NW NARCH)
The NW NARCH program is operated by the EpiCenter at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), an Indian organization uniquely qualified to administer NWNARCH based on active membership of all 43 Northwest Indian tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. NW NARCH offers AI/AN researchers access to the extensive health research training opportunities of two premier academic health research institutes of the Northwest—Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) and Portland State University (PSU). All of the NW NARCH projects are accomplished through enhancements of the existing partnership between NPAIHB, OHSU, and PSU. Together, we work to further the position of the NW NARCH as a regional resource for AI/AN health research and national efforts to reduce health disparities among AI/AN people. NW NARCH is sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers S06GM127164, S06GM123543, and S06GM141002.
Goals of NW NARCH
The goal of the NW NARCH is to nurture a cadre of highly trained AI/AN biomedical and health researchers who are sensitive to the culture and specific concerns of Northwest Indian and Alaska Native communities, and who can bring the benefits of academic research into their communities to improve tribal health.
Community Based Projects to Accomplish our Goals
The NW NARCH funds community-based research projects that address priority health issues. Here are some current and past projects:
Current Projects:
- Asthma Intervention Study
- Cancer Control Training
Past Projects
- Child Safety Seat Study
- Diabetes Self-Management Via Internet
- Eye Disease Surveillance Study
- Monitoring Abuse Drugs (MAD NARCH)
- Native Voices Adaptation
- Native Voices
- Summer Institute Research Training
- Toddler Obesity and Tooth Decay Prevention Study (TOTS)
- Tots-2-Tweens
Now accepting applications for the Research Support Fellowship and Internship Program
- Visit the Fellowships tab below where you can download the 2022 Fellowship Application
- Visit the Internships tab below where you can download the NW NARCH Internship Program PDF
The NW NARCH is now accepting applications for the 2022 Tribal Researchers’ Cancer Control Fellowship Program
2020 Health Conference Archive
The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention – Intro Overview – Jani Ingram, Professor, Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Northern Arizona University
Utilizing Electronic Health Records (EHR) Alerts to Improve Child Passenger Safety in Northwest Tribal Communities – Candice Jiménez, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Raising Healthy Native Youth: AI/AN Inclusive Pathways for Adolescent Health – Michelle Singer, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
How the ANTHC is Developing Immersive Holograms to Promote Substance Use Dialogue in Alaska Native Communities – Tim Collins, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
NTP I: Community Action Board – Charene Alexander, Northwest Indian College
Community -> Research -> Action: a NARCH Example – Bill Freeman, Northwest Indian College
“It’s Time for a Change, I Need to, I Have to”: Turning Points in Recovery from Substance Misuse among Individuals with the Lived Experience of Homelessness in Anchorage, Alaska – Alicia Marvin, University of Alaska Anchorage
Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center – Victoria Warren-Mears, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium – Timothy Thomas, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
California Tribal Epidemiology Center – Vanesscia Cresci, California Rural Indian Health Board
University of Washington – Karina Walters, University of Washington
Alaska Native Patient and Provider Perspectives on the Multi-target Stool DNA Test Compared with Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening – Diana Redwood, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Native Epidemiology Center
Gynecologic Cancer Incidence and Mortality among American Indian/Alaska Native Women in the Pacific Northwest, 1996-2016 – Mercedes Weisenberger, Oregon Health and Science University
Native Spirit Boys & Girls Club: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Culturally- grounded After-school Program for American Indian Youth in an Urban Setting – Amanda Hunter, University of Arizona
Exploring Methodologies of Decolonizing and Indigenizing Research Methods – Danica Brown, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Developing a Study of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Protective Factors among Alaska Native People Using a Community Based Participatory Research Framework – Sarah Nash & Diana Redwood, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Establishment of an Oral Health surveillance System in Western Alaska Using the Electronic Dental Record – Timothy Thomas, Director of Clinical and Research Services Department in the Division of Community Health Services, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Indigenized Colville Tribal Research – Randall Gottfriedson, SimHayKin Jack, and Kookguma Scumhist Jack, Colville Confederated Tribes
The NW NARCH Research Support Fellowship
The NW NARCH Research Support Fellowship provides funding for American Indian/Alaska Native graduate students, in the biomedical and social sciences, conducting scientific research supervised by an academic mentor. Financial support is awarded on an hourly basis ($24/hour; maximum: $25,000 per year) for time spent in research working on a thesis or dissertation. Travel awards will be provided to fellows, and their chosen peer mentors, who wish to present their research at scientific meetings.
The NW NARCH Internship Program
The NW NARCH Internship Program provides funding for American Indian/Alaska Native students conducting scientific research supervised by an academic mentor. Interns may complete a project of their choice. Financial support is awarded on an hourly basis (maximum: $2,000 per internship). Interns are required to write a manuscript or present their research upon completion of the internship.
NW NARCH Internship Program PDF
Tribal Researchers’ Cancer Control Fellowship Program
Accepted fellows will attend a two-week summer training in June 2022 and one-week follow-up training in the fall (virtual training sessions will be provided due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In addition to formal training, fellows will receive distance learning, peer and career mentorship to develop and implement cancer control projects, be connected to a network of experts in cancer control and prevention in Indian Country, and be eligible for paid internships. Applications are encouraged from AI/AN graduate students, researchers, and tribal health workers with a demonstrated interest in cancer prevention and control.
Topics will include (not limited to):
- Cancer control study design
- Cancer epidemiology
- Cancer screening
- Cohort studies among American Indians
- Community-based chronic disease programs
- Cultural considerations in cancer epidemiology
- Focus groups
- Grant writing
- Implementing a Native comprehensive cancer prevention and control project
The NW NARCH is now accepting applications for the 2022 Tribal Researchers’ Cancer Control Fellowship Program
2022 Summer Research Training Institute (SRTI)
This intensive three-week summer research training program is designed to meet the needs of professionals working in diverse areas of American Indian and Alaska Native health. Each week offers different, short courses that emphasize practical skill-building in research, program evaluation, and implementation. In addition, the 2022 SRTI will offer a certificate track to a select number of qualified applicants who are interested in specializing in one area of tribal health.
The 2022 SRTI will take place virtually from June 13 – June 30
Courses offered at this training have included:
- Epidemiology 1
- Introduction to Biostatistics
- Program Evaluation
- Health Literacy
- Community-Based Participatory Research
- Substance Misuse Epidemiology
- Cancer Prevention & Control
- Research Design & Grant Writing
- Grant Management
- Focus Groups
Please check back for more details on applying and registering for the 2022 SRTI.
Evaluating our Effectiveness in Improving Asthma Care for Children and Adolescents
A project sponsored by the Indian Health Service, Tribal Environmental Services, in partnership with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. The goal of this evaluation is to reduce asthma attacks & in home asthma triggers.
Who qualifies to participate?
Children and Teens age 3-17 with asthma and their parents/guardians
What are the benefits of participating in this intervention evaluation?
- Patients and their parent and/or guardians will receive education.
- Parent and/or guardians will receive in home visits in order to provide special vacuum cleaners, mattresses & pillow covers, and green cleaning supplies.
- Services are free of charge
- Supplies are your families to keep!
- You will receive a $25 gift card for participating.
For more referral information, please talk with your primary care provider to request a referral.
For general Enhancing Control of Childhood Asthma in AI/AN Communities Project information contact:
Mattie Tomeo-Palmanteer: (503) 416-3254 or asthma@npaihb.org
Check back for updates.
Thomas Becker, PI
503.416.3280
tbecker@npaihb.org
2121 SW Broadway, STE 300
Portland, OR 97201
Ashley Thomas, Program Manager
athomas@npaihb.org
Grazia Cunningham, NW NARCH Co-Investigator/Editor
gcunningham@npaihb.org
Reshell Livingston, Project Coordinator
503.416.3254
asthma@npaihb.org
