Native American Short-Term Research Education Program in Children's Health

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Health disparities in AI/AN communities exist throughout the lifespan and include morbidity and deaths from cardiovascular disease, smoking related illnesses, obesity, diabetes, infection, chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, substance abuse, and trauma, among others. AI/AN people die at a younger age with 25% of AI/AN deaths occurring before age 45, compared with 15% of African Americans and 7% of Whites. Eliminating health disparities, requires the identification, recruitment, education, and training of the most talented scientists in the U.S. Our holistic and comprehensive Native American Summer Research Internship program in Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Hematology diseases (NARI-NHLBI) was developed, based on principles of community engagement, to support AI/AN students (who are underrepresented and underserved in both higher education and healthcare) with an ultimate goal of increasing AI/AN representation and leadership in science/medicine and thus narrow the gap of significant AI/AN health disparities. During the last renewal, we expanded to include the NARI-MD/PhD Program. NARI-NHLBI and MD/PhD undergraduate participants receive research, cultural, and professional mentorship and training with committed community members and renowned scientists. With the help of this NARI-NHLBI initiative, the NARI-MD/PhD is now a sustainable partner within the NARI program. To date, 65 NARI-NHLBI participants represent 35 tribal nations, 35 colleges/universities, and 20 home states and 10 NARI-MD/PhD participants represent 5 tribal nations, 9 colleges/universities, and 6 home states. Of the 65 NARI-NHLBI Program participants, 56 (86%) have completed a bachelor’s degree and the remaining 9 (14%) are current undergraduate students. Of the 10 NARI-MD/PhD Program participants, 7 (70%) have completed a BS degree and the remaining 3 (30%) are current undergraduate students. No one has dropped out of college. To date, 17 (26%) NARI-NHLBI participants and 6 (60%) NARI-MD/PhD participants have worked in biomedical science fields as research assistants. Upon obtaining their undergraduate degree, 28 (50%) of the 56 NARI-NHLBI graduates and 2 (29%) of the 7 NARI-MD/PhD graduates are continuing their education in the health/science fields: 16 NARI- NHLBI and 1 NARI-MD/PhD participants were accepted into a graduate program; 12 NARI-NHLBI and 1 NARI- MD/PhD participants were accepted into medical school. Our current NARI participants continue to report that cardiovascular disease, obesity, and smoking related illness were the top health concerns of their families. Thus, we hope to continue the current NARI-NHLBI research experiences for NARI trainees in the field of cardiovascular, pulmonary and hematology research. It is with this proposal, that we hope to continue our successful summer research support for twelve AI/AN participants interested in NARI-NHLBI research and expand our professional development opportunities to better engage NARI-NHLBI participants in basic laboratory and clinical skills.