Thursday, November 30, 2023
11/30/2023
Project Summary. The Akwesasne Research Center for Health (ARCH) project is submitted by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) of Akwesasne, NY in partnership with the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RP) led by the RP Center for Indigenous Cancer Research (RP- CICR) in Buffalo, NY. Establishing the ARCH will support the development of two research projects and one student enhancement project, all co-developed and co-led by SRMT and RP. The proposed Administrative Core will establish key personnel, supplies, and in-person or virtual meetings to coordinate project timelines, deliverables, evaluation efforts, and community engagement. The Environmental Health Research Project will engage RP environmental scientists and state-of-the-art equipment to measure environmental health concerns in Akwesasne landscapes and their relationships to the human condition. The liver wellness project titled, LIVE (Live, Indigenous, Virtual, Enhancement), includes a culturally tailored liver health promotion program to encourage traditional and healthy life ways through community-based education and lifestyle modification. To support research interest amongst the younger generation in Akwesasne, the ARCH proposal includes the St. Regis Mohawk Research Scholars Program. This program engages high school and college students in a three-prong approach, 1.) Community Engagement Conferences to create research and science career awareness and recruit students to participate in afterschool and summer research opportunities; 2.) An After School Health Science Club to provide students with working knowledge of public health, data collection methods, statistical analysis approaches, health behavior and epidemiology principles; and 3.) a Summer Program to provide high school and college students with immersive research experiences integrated with core research projects of ARCH, and to apply principles and skill sets to addressing cancer health disparities and environmental health issues specific to the SRMT. Each project in the ARCH would be directed by the Principal Investigator from the SRMT Health Division and coordinated by key personnel identified both at SRMT and RP's Center for Indigenous Cancer Research. This direct partnership with the SRMT Health Division supports RP's existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Health Service that agrees to collaborate in the areas of cancer research; research; consultation/technical assistance focused on cancer prevention; capacity building; and direct services in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The SRMT will activate this MoU to further guide the development of the ARCH.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
