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-10914306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The AIHEC BIRCH project is all about helping Tribal Nations take charge of health research that affects their communities by offering new educational programs for American Indian and Alaska Native students, so they can become healthcare providers and researchers while blending traditional knowledge with modern health practices to improve health in their communities.
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) | $647,631 |
| NIH project number | 5S06GM142131-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include American Indian and Alaska Native students interested in health careers and their communities seeking to improve health outcomes.
✕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. By implementing new educational programs across 37 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), the project supports American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in pursuing careers as healthcare providers and researchers. This initiative fosters collaboration among AIAN and non-Native researchers, educators, and community practitioners to integrate traditional knowledge into health practices, ultimately addressing health disparities 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: Warne, Donald Keith — American Indian Higher Education Consrtm
- Study coordinator: Warne, Donald Keith
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.