Investigating Obesity and Chronic Disease-Related Risk Factors of Alaska Natives

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议的科布雷资助的阿拉斯加土著健康研究中心(CANHR)的总体目标是在阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学(UAF)建立一个永久和可持续的研究中心，主要主题是调查阿拉斯加土著中的肥胖和慢性疾病相关风险、控制和预防。具体目标1.加强阿拉斯加大学阿拉斯加土著健康研究的生物医学研究基础设施。这将通过以下方式实现：增加大学对与阿拉斯加原住民进行生物医学研究的承诺，通过扩大阿拉斯加原住民研究地点的数量增加研究机会，形成全州范围的研究伙伴关系，以及加强Cobre II研究的综合组织结构。常备核心得到加强，职能得到巩固；增加了一个营养和体力活动核心。这些核心与CANHR的长期研究议程保持一致。具体目标2.增加阿拉斯加大学接受美国国立卫生研究院独立调查员资助的研究人员数量。这将通过由才华横溢的新CANHR调查人员完成四个研究项目来实现。研究人员正在进行以下研究：1)在文化上了解尤普伊克人的体重和糖尿病病因及其与健康的关系；2)调查基于食物稳定同位素比率变化的饮食摄入量的无偏生物标记物的方法，并将这些生物标记物与当前的饮食记录进行比较；3)确定尤普伊克人自给食物来源中的营养素和污染物；以及4)更准确地了解和测量尤普伊克人的压力源和应对方法。每一项调查都将提供对阿拉斯加原住民健康差距的更有区别的了解。它们将作为NIH申请的基础，并为阿拉斯加原住民健康差距的预防、应用和基础研究奠定基础。CANHR将通过聘请两名在NIH资助方面有成功记录的副教授来增加能力并加强其指导能力。CANHR通过在服务不足的人群中确定慢性病的风险和保护因素，为阿拉斯加人口的公共健康作出贡献。这一结果对理解美国和北极圈其他农村少数民族健康差距的原因和影响因素具有重要意义。它们有可能转化为更多的研究，为一级和二级预防制定循证做法。科布雷为维持研究环境提供了基础，其使命是利用研究来影响可以减少健康差距的政策和做法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of the proposed COBRE-funded Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR) is to achieve a permanent and sustainable research center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) with the primary theme of investigating obesity and chronic disease-related risk, control, and prevention among Alaska Natives. Specific Aim 1. To enhance the biomedical research infrastructure for Alaska Native health research at the University of Alaska. This will be achieved through an increase in the University's commitment to biomedical research with Alaska Natives, additional research opportunities through an expansion of the number of Alaska Native research sites, formation of statewide research partnerships; and strengthening the integrated organizational structure for COBRE II research. Standing cores have been strengthened and functions consolidated; a Nutrition and Physical Activity Core has been added. The cores are aligned with the long-term CANHR research agenda. Specific Aim 2. Increase the number of investigators at the University of Alaska receiving NIH independent investigator funding for CANHR-related research. This will be achieved by completing four research projects by highly talented new CANHR investigators. Investigators are pursuing research that 1) develops a cultural understanding of the perceptions of weight and diabetes etiology and their relationships to health among Yup'ik Eskimos; 2) investigates a methodology of unbiased biomarkers of dietary intake based on variations in food stable isotope ratios and compares those biomarkers to concurrent diet records; 3) determines nutrients and contaminants in Yup'ik subsistence food sources; and 4) understands more precisely and measures stressors and coping methods among Yup'ik Eskimos. Each investigation will provide a more differentiated understanding of health disparities of Alaska Natives. They will serve as the basis for applications to NIH and a foundation for prevention, applied, and basic research into Alaska Native health disparities. CANHR will increase capacity and strengthen its mentorship ability by hiring two Associate Professors with a record of success in NIH funding. CANHR contributes to the public health of the Alaskan population by identifying risk and protective factors for chronic diseases among an underserved population. Results have implications for understanding the causes and contributing factors of health disparities of other rural minorities in America and in the circumpolar North. They have the potential for translation into additional research that will develop evidence-based practices for primary and secondary prevention. The COBRE provides a foundation for sustaining a research environment with a mission of utilizing research to influence policy and practices that can reduce health disparities.