Healing from Within: Sharing wellness journeys for Alaska Native communities
Official title: Heal(th) From Within: A Research Collaborative to Share our Journeys to Wellness
Funded at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium · NIH-11367181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-led effort to develop culturally grounded ways to prevent overdoses, help with chronic pain, and support mental health for Alaska Native people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $404,822 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2DA061112-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Alaska Native individuals and community members affected by substance use, overdose risk, chronic pain, or mental health concerns who live in or are connected to tribal communities in Alaska.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not part of Alaska Native communities or who need immediate clinical treatment for pain or addiction are unlikely to directly benefit from this capacity-building phase.
What this research studies
You would be part of a project led by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to strengthen local research and plan culturally grounded approaches for substance use, overdose, pain, and mental health. The team will work with tribes and community members across Alaska to listen to experiences, form advisory groups, and identify local strategies that fit community needs. In this Phase I work they are building the partnerships, tools, and infrastructure needed to test interventions later. The goal is to design programs that respect Alaska Native cultures and can be tried in Phase II studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce culturally appropriate programs that reduce overdoses, improve pain care, and strengthen mental wellbeing in Alaska Native communities.
How similar studies have gone: Community-driven, culturally tailored programs have shown promise in other Indigenous settings, but this specific Alaska Native collaborative approach will need later-phase testing to demonstrate impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ford, Tara — Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Study coordinator: Ford, Tara
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Heal(th) From Within: A Collaborative to Share Journeys to Wellness
A collaborative project with Alaska Native communities aims to explore culturally grounded paths to reduce substance use and improve mental health.
-
Understanding MASLD progression to MASH and liver cancer in Alaska Native communities
A patient-facing overview of a study that looks at why a common liver disease progresses to more serious conditions in Alaska Native and American Indian people.
-
Traditional foods and community-led health for Alaska Natives
A community-driven project in Alaska aims to strengthen food security and wellbeing by honoring traditional foods and Indigenous knowledge.
-
More Outside Your Door helps Alaska Native kids stay healthy
A community-based program in rural Alaska supports Alaska Native children ages 0-12 and their families with traditional foods, physical activity, and sleep habits to reduce obesity and future heart risks.
-
Building a big study of colorectal cancer risk in Alaska Native people
A large research project will follow Alaska Native adults to learn why colorectal cancer occurs more often in this population and how to prevent it.
-
ANTLER: Training and Learning Experiences in Research for Alaska Native and American Indian communities
Aimed at students and early-career researchers, ANT LER offers mentored internships and professional development to build capacity for tribally-driven health research in Alaska.
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.