Diversity in Life Sciences

The Tribal Health Research Office (THRO) is the central hub of coordinating Tribal health research across the NIH. We do this by requesting input from Tribal communities on NIH policies, programs and activities. Our long-term goal is to create opportunities for the next generation of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) researchers at the NIH. The office is located in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Director (OD), NIH.

The office that I lead fulfills an important coordinating and planning role as it works with NIH Institutes and Centers to leverage resources to develop and carryout the strategic plan to support tribal health research. NIH funds research aimed to improve health and reduce health disparities in AI/AN communities on such issues as cardiovascular disease, environmental health, drug and alcohol abuse, and diabetes. Programs are designed to empower individuals and communities with the information they need to improve the health of their community and prevent disease and injury. The NIH funds programs that encourage AI/AN students to enter biomedical research careers, join the biomedical workforce, come back to their communities and contribute their knowledge, as well as support AI/AN investigators who are leading their own biomedical research programs.