Building a big study of colorectal cancer risk in Alaska Native people
Official title: Building a Cancer Epidemiology Cohort to Investigate Factors Associated with Higher Risk of Colorectal Cancer among Alaska Native People
Funded at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium · NIH-11395374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large research project will follow Alaska Native adults to learn why colorectal cancer occurs more often in this population and how to prevent it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $445,427 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA290673-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older who are Alaska Native and undergoing colonoscopy will be invited to participate.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not Alaska Native or who are not undergoing colonoscopy may not directly benefit from the study.
What this research studies
This project creates the first community-engaged cohort to study colorectal cancer risk among Alaska Native people. It will enroll 1,000 adults who are scheduled for colonoscopy in Anchorage and nearby communities to collect information and samples over time. The researchers aim to identify new risk factors that could lead to better primary prevention and more accurate risk prediction. The study builds on a successful pilot and partners with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Participants can expect careful follow-up and access to potential future prevention strategies tied to the findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to new ways to prevent colorectal cancer and tailor screening for Alaska Native people.
How similar studies have gone: This is the first large cohort study focusing on CRC risk in Alaska Native people, building on a prior pilot.
Where this research is happening
-
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Redwood, Diana — Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Study coordinator: Redwood, Diana
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.