Wabanaki Grants, Epidemiology, Analysis, Research Design, and Undergraduate Program

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT 1: ABSTRACT American Indian people in the US have experienced a long history of exploitative “helicopter research” in which non-Native investigators arrive, collect data, and proceed to publish without regard to the community’s well-being or wishes. In recent decades, the National Institutes of Health have made progress in increasing the number of American Indian Principal Investigators, yet awareness is growing of the need to build capacity for community- led health research outside of academia. The Wabanaki Public Health District, which serves the 4 federally recognized tribes in the State of Maine, has identified research capacity building as a priority. Therefore, in Capacity Building Project 1, Dr. Patrik Johansson and faculty at Washington State University will deliver a 12- month program, “Wabanaki Grants, Epidemiology, Analysis, Research Design, and Undergraduate Program” (GEARD-UP), that is tailored to the Wabanaki Public Health District’s research capacity-building goals. GEARD- UP comprises monthly 2-hour sessions delivered synchronously and asynchronously by videoconference. GEARD-UP will be offered over 3 consecutive years and all WPH employees will be invited to participate. Topics include study design, epidemiology and biostatistics, qualitative research methods, geospatial epidemiology, data visualization, grant writing, and strategic planning, with special emphasis on elder health and examples from Alzheimer’s disease research. A supplemental hands-on lab course that runs concurrently throughout the 12 months will be available for attendees who wish to gain skills in data management and data analysis. Capacity Building Project 1 will also support year-long internships that bring Wabanaki undergraduate students from the University of Maine to Wabanaki Public Health for field-based experience with research and public health. The internship program will be led by Dr. Rebecca Petrie, Co-Leader of Capacity Building Project 1. Lastly, this Project will provide resources and support to accelerate Wabanaki Public Health’s progress towards public health accreditation based on standards of the Public Health Accreditation Board. Our Specific Aims are to: 1) Deliver the 12-month GEARD-UP curriculum to provide education, mentoring, and hands-on training in health research methods and grant writing for 45 Wabanaki Public Health employees; 2) Support internship programs in years 1-4 of the NARCH to provide American Indian undergraduate students with field-based research experience and mentoring at Wabanaki Public Health; and 3) Facilitate accreditation for Wabanaki Public Health that positions them to further elevate their research infrastructure. Capacity Building Project 1 will foster a culture of learning among tribal employees, grow the pipeline of American Indian young adults seeking careers in public health, and strengthen the Wabanaki Public Health Infrastructure. Importantly, Capacity Building Project 1 will also provide a template to grow the internal research infrastructure for other American Indian communities in the eastern US.