Climate and health impacts in American Indian and rural Upper Midwest communities
Mni Sota Center for Climate Change and Health
This center looks at how climate change affects the health of American Indian, rural, and farming communities in the Upper Midwest and works with those communities to find practical ways to reduce harm.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193913 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll hear from researchers working with American Indian nations, rural residents, and farmers across the Upper Midwest to link extreme weather, air pollution, and drought to health outcomes like mental health, substance use, obesity, and chronic disease. The team will combine health records, environmental data, and community-reported experiences and may use population-level data and biospecimens to track impacts over time. They plan to partner with local clinics, tribal health programs, and community organizations to ensure data collection respects cultural priorities and local needs. Findings will be turned into practical guidance, tools, and adaptation strategies communities can use to protect health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are American Indian individuals, rural residents, or people working in agriculture in the Upper Midwest who are concerned about climate impacts on their or their community's health.
Not a fit: People who live outside the Upper Midwest or whose health concerns are unrelated to climate or environmental exposures may be less likely to benefit directly from this center's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the center could produce practical programs, tools, and local guidance that reduce climate-related health harms and improve access to care for American Indian and rural communities.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have connected climate factors to health in urban and coastal areas, but focused work in American Indian and rural agricultural populations is limited, so this center expands on emerging but not yet extensive evidence.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alexander, Bruce H. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Alexander, Bruce H.
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 below.