How Yup'ik culture may protect against stress-related high blood pressure
The impact of enculturation on the epigenetic relationship between chronic stress and hypertension in Yup'ik Alaska Native people
This project will see if Yup'ik cultural traditions help protect Yup'ik Alaska Native people from stress-related high blood pressure by changing biological markers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248409 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will ask about your cultural practices, life stress, and health habits and will measure your blood pressure. You may be asked to give a blood or saliva sample so scientists can look for epigenetic markers that link stress and blood pressure. The team will compare people who report strong Yup'ik cultural ties or bicultural practices with those more aligned to Western lifestyles. Results will be used to understand biological pathways behind the protective effect of culture.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Yup'ik Alaska Native adults who live in or near Yup'ik communities and are willing to share health information and provide biological samples like blood or saliva.
Not a fit: People who are not Yup'ik or Alaska Native, or those unwilling to share cultural information or provide biological samples, are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to culturally tailored programs or interventions that better prevent or reduce high blood pressure and stroke risk in Yup'ik communities.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier research found that enculturation and biculturalism link to healthier blood pressure, but identifying the underlying epigenetic mechanisms is largely new and untested.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyer, Bert Brandon — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Boyer, Bert Brandon
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.