- Winter 2006-

$6 Million Awarded for American Indian and Alaska Native Research Centers

The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), both agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have announced 13 American Indian and Alaska Native programs as the recipients of approximately $6 million in grant funds to support medical research efforts. The funding is from the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program, which is supported by IHS and NIGMS.

“These grants are the results of an ongoing collaboration between two HHS agencies. They are an important part of the efforts to improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people,” says Dr. Charles Grim, IHS director. “Additional benefits from the NARCH program will be culturally sensitive research, and research influenced and sanctioned by Tribal communities.”

“NIGMS is pleased to continue partnering with IHS in this important initiative,” states Dr. Jeremy M. Berg, NIGMS director. “It is an innovative program that contributes to the NIH goals of improving the health of all Americans and reducing health disparities.

In addition, the program aligns with our strong interest in increasing the number of minority scientists performing biomedical and behavioral research.”

More information on the NARCH program, with links to the grant announcement and application process, is available at www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/Research.

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