The IHS provides an entre to American Indian and Native Alaska tribes, but has little research money. NIH has the grant money, but native populations have been skeptical of traditional research efforts, which they see as more exploitative than beneficial, he said. Research intensive partners under the program must have an established record of producing research on the health of American Indians and an established program to enroll and train Native American undergraduate, predoctoral and post doctoral students. Half of the members of the required governing board must be from and appointed by tribes. Project duration is five years.
Planners expect other institutes to chip in funds.
The program also provides a model for other institutes to adopt, Nolan said. There are marked disparities in areas such as diabetes, homicide, alcoholism and automobile accidents, for example. But, the draft program announcement emphasizes that each center set its own goals, measurable objectives and milestones. New scientists trained at centers will be able to pursue broad research interests. Officials expect to publish the announcement next month in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.