Cherokee Nation ARCH: A Center to Understand Autism in Tribal Communities
Official title: Cherokee Nation Autism Research Center for Health (CN-ARCH)
Funded at Cherokee Nation · NIH-11369414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center will partner with Cherokee Nation to study autism in Native children, building research foundations to improve diagnosis and access to care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cherokee Nation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tahlequah, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $212,640 |
| NIH project number | 1S06GM164777-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and families within the Cherokee Nation who are affected by autism or related neurodevelopmental conditions and who are seeking improved diagnostic and support services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not within the Cherokee Nation or those without access to tribal health resources may not directly benefit from this center.
What this research studies
This project creates a dedicated center within the Cherokee Nation to conduct patient-centered autism research and related neurodevelopmental conditions. It focuses on understanding barriers to timely diagnosis and access to culturally appropriate therapies for children in Tribal Nations. The center will collaborate with OU Health Sciences to establish sustainable research infrastructure and community-driven study activities. The goal is to deepen knowledge about autism in this population and lay groundwork for better screening, assessment, and support across the lifespan. The work emphasizes partnerships with families and local providers to ensure findings translate into practical improvements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to earlier, more accurate autism diagnoses and better access to tailored therapies for Cherokee Nation children and families.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing recognition of the need for culturally tailored autism research in tribal populations, with early foundational work informing future studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Cherokee Nation
Tahlequah, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez, Sydney Ann — Cherokee Nation
- Study coordinator: Martinez, Sydney Ann
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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.