Building Indigenous research capacity in health for American Indian and Alaska Native communities
Official title: American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Building Indigenous Research Capacity in Health (BIRCH) project
Funded at American Indian Higher Education Consrtm · NIH-10914305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping Native American and Alaska Native students become healthcare providers and researchers, so they can take charge of health research that affects their communities and improve health outcomes together with both Native and non-Native researchers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | American Indian Higher Education Consrtm NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Alexandria, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $85,128 |
| NIH project number | 5S06GM142131-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, particularly students pursuing careers in healthcare and research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the American Indian or Alaska Native communities may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
The AIHEC BIRCH project aims to empower Tribal Nations by enhancing their control over health research that directly impacts their communities. This initiative focuses on implementing new educational programs across 37 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to support American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in becoming healthcare providers and researchers. By fostering a collaborative network of AIAN and non-Native researchers, the project seeks to integrate traditional knowledge with modern health practices to address health disparities and improve outcomes in tribal communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to healthier tribal communities and improved health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that communities with tribal healthcare providers and researchers experience better health outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
American Indian Higher Education Consrtm
Alexandria, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Billy, Carrie Lynn — American Indian Higher Education Consrtm
- Study coordinator: Billy, Carrie Lynn
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.