Culturally tailored pain care for American Indian and Alaska Native adults in the Pacific Northwest
Official title: Culturally Adapted Pain Management for Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Northwest (CAP-I)
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11209571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a pain-management program adapted to the cultures and needs of American Indian and Alaska Native adults and will run a small randomized pilot at tribal health clinics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $198,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00MD017254-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11209571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are American Indian or Alaska Native adults (age 21+) with chronic pain who receive care at the Portland Area Indian Health Service – Yakama Service Unit or nearby tribal clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People younger than 21, non–American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, or patients who cannot attend the participating clinic are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
You would be invited to a pain-management program that was created with input from tribal community members. During an earlier phase, focus groups helped develop a treatment manual, workbooks, and culturally appropriate procedures. In the R00 phase the team will run a small randomized pilot at the Portland Area Indian Health Service – Yakama Service Unit to test feasibility, follow-up, and acceptability. The pilot will inform a larger future trial while aiming to honor tribal context and patient preferences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide culturally acceptable pain-coping skills and expand treatment options for American Indian and Alaska Native patients with chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: General psychosocial pain treatments have helped other populations, but culturally adapted interventions for AI/AN communities are relatively new and have not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newman, Andrea K — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Newman, Andrea K
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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.