Ongoing Studies
RESTORING BALANCE IN INDIAN COUNTRY
The aims of this study are to test the effect of a physical activity intervention on quality of life, functional ability and biomarkers of metabolic health among Native American cancer survivors.
The objectives are to 1) expand scope of pilot study to include all Native American cancer survivors; 2) assess the effectiveness of the physical activity intervention; and 3) continue longitudinal follow-up of pilot study participants.
The study is innovative in 3 ways: 1) it is the first study to completely engage Native American cancer survivors; 2) tailors ACSM exercise guidelines for cancer survivors to Native Americans; 3) builds on partnerships between academic, clinical and Native community partners to address health promotion.
Funding provided by: National Cancer Institute U54CA143924, U54CA143925.
SOUTWEST HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH CENTER
The overall goal of the Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to support the development of early career investigators, specifically junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars, in basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences at Northern Arizona University.
The objectives are to: 1) establish a Pilot Project Program to support faculty; and 2) develop a Postdoctoral Scholar Program to support and mentor postdoctoral researchers.
This work is innovative in that it will: 1) contribute to national capacity for health equity research by increasing the number of post-doctoral and junior faculty receiving training in health equity-related research; by 2) applying best practices of the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities Council on Research and the National Organization of Research Development Professionals.
Funding provided by: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHHD) 1U54MD012388-01.
MICROBIOME ASSESSMENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FIT KIDS CLINICAL CHILDOOD OBESITY PROGRAM: A PILOT STUDY
This study aims to collect preliminary data on Gut Microbiome samples among high risk children and parents participating in a clinical obesity treatment intervention at Northern Arizona Healthcare called Fit Kids of Arizona.
The objectives are to 1) assess feasibility of gut microbiome data collection among Fit Kids participants; 2) gain insight into participating children and one parents’ gut microbiota at the start of the program; 3) assess changes in the gut microbiota following 3 months of program participation; and 4) calculate sample size and power for an R15 application in 2018.
The study is innovative in 3 ways: 1) the novelty of microbiome as a clinical outcome, 2) the target population, and 3) the assessment of microbiome in response to lifestyle intervention.
Funding by: Northern Arizona University
CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIAN RESILIENCE (CAIR)
CAIR is a collaborative effort between Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Diné College and American Indian communities to promote health and document models and meanings of individual, family and community resilience.
The Research Core’s aim is to mentor junior investigators and community-investigator teams to document models of resilience in American Indian communities. The collaborative projects aim to improve and understand resilience and culture. The overarching goal of these collaborative projects is to identify, assess, translate and apply models of resilience associated with positive outcomes in American Indians
The projects of the CAIR Research Core are to strengthen and enhance existing community and academic partnerships. Our work is deepening the scientific knowledge of resilience and health of American Indians. CAIR facilitates the translation of knowledge from research to practice to inform and transform public health education, practice and policy.
Funding by: NIH, NIMHHD 1P20MD006872.