Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

This grant, titled 'Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)', aims to fund research aimed at improving the health of Native American populations. There is a specific focus on filling gaps in our current knowledge to inform the development of new or adapted interventions.

The research can involve different aspects such as studying the causes of diseases, developing, adapting, or testing the effectiveness of health promotion and disease prevention interventions. This grant also appreciates research that validates culturally-apt treatments or recovery interventions. Furthermore, if there is pre-existing, conclusive data about the efficacy of an intervention, the research can focus on strategies to overcome the obstacles in adopting, mainstreaming, and sustaining these effective interventions.

The grant acknowledges the fact that Native American populations are unfortunately prone to acute and chronic diseases due to disparities in health. It also recognizes the unique combination of sociopolitical, historical, and environmental stressors that these communities face which may further escalate their health conditions or affect the effectiveness of interventions.

However, Native American populations also have unique resiliencies and strengths that can reduce the impact of these stressors and inform the development of strategies. Thus, the grant seeks to leverage these strengths and use community resources for the development and testing of interventions that are culturally appropriate as well as science-based.

The aim is to reduce disease and disorders by identifying and treating their precursors. Thus all interventions should be designed with a focus on sustainability in the native communities where they are tried and should be adaptable for future dissemination and scale-up in culturally suitable in other communities.

For the sake of this grant, the Native American population includes Alaska Natives and American Indians that have at least part of their ancestral lands within the U.S. boundaries.