Research Studies

SCF Research has numerous ongoing research studies that answer important questions about the health and wellness of the Native Community. These studies rely on the participation from Alaska Native and American Indian people to answer these questions. If interested in participating, please contact SCF Research.

Contact Us

Research and Data
Services Department
Nuka Learning and Wellness Building
4085 Tudor Centre Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508

Phone
(907) 729-8623

Email
SCFResearchOffice@scf.cc

Study NameGoalSCF LeadSCF PartnersProject StatusRelated Publications
Alaska Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH)To study how diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle and cultural factors affect chronic disease.Vanessa Hiratsuka, PhD MPHAlaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Oregon Health Sciences UniversityData being analyzed
Alaska Native Family Health HistoryTo explore whether Alaska Native people may be willing to have biological specimens and associated family health history information stored for use in future research about cancerDenise Dillard, PhDAlaska Native Tribal Health ConsortiumPublications in progress
American Indian-Alaska Native Clinical and Translational Research CenterTo build partnerships in Alaska and Montana to address health priorities among Alaska Native and American Indian people through training and mentoring of researchers.Denise A. Dillard, PhDMontana State University,
University of Montana,
Blackfeet Tribal College,
University of Alaska Anchorage,
University of Alaska Fairbanks, and
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Caring Texts: A Strength-based, Suicide Prevention TrialTo adapt and test an evidence-based suicide prevention texting intervention for use with Alaska Native communities.Jennifer ShawUniversity of Washington and Washington State UniversityRecruiting Participants
Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translational ResearchTo establish partnerships and support research in diabetes.Denise Dillard, PhD and Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPH, MSPharmUniversity of Colorado DenverJust awarded
Center for Ethics the Indigenous Genomic ResearchFacilitate the conversation within the tribal community on the ethical, legal and social implications of genomic research.Vanessa Hiratsuka, PhD MPHUniversity of Oklahoma, Chickasaw Nation, and Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc.Data being analyzed
Colorectal Cancer ScreeningTo determine whether text messages increase the number of SCF customer-owners over the age of 40 who get screened for colorectal cancer.Denise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Washington School of Native HealthPublications in progressText message reminders increased colorectal cancer screening in a randomized trial with Alaska Native and American Indian people
Community Outreach and EngagementTo work with the Alaska Native and American Indian community to address trauma.Denise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Colorado DenverPublications in progress
Contingency Management for Alcohol Misuse with Alaska Native PeopleTo develop and test an innovative, culturally-congruent intervention to increase alcohol abstinence among reservation-based and urban Alaska Native and American Indian people.Jennifer ShawWashington State UniversityRecruiting Participants
Depression ManagementTo develop and test an iPad-based tool which gives SCF customer-owners information about different ways to manage depression.Renee Robinson, PharmDPatient Centered Outcomes Research InstitutePublications in progressEngaging Stakeholders to Develop a Depression Management Decision Support Tool in a Tribal Health System
Diet and the CPT1A Arctic Variant: Impact on the Health of Alaska Native ChildrenTo study how diet and differences in genes affect the health of Alaska Native children .Denise A. Dillard, PhDOregon Health Sciences UniversityJust awarded
Exploring Palliative Care Communication with Alaska Native and American Indian People in Two Primary Care SettingsTo test ways to promote advance care planning among Alaska Native and American Indian people with serious illness.Jennifer Shaw, PhDUniversity of New Mexico, University of Colorado, University of Washington, and Washington State UniversityRecruiting participants
Genes and Nicotine MetabolismTo explore how differences in genes affect how people metabolize medications used in tobacco cessation treatmentRenee Robinson, PharmD, MPHUniversity of Washington School of PharmacyPublications in progress
Genes and Tamoxifen ResponseTo explore how differences in genes affect how people respond to Tamoxifen, a medication used to reduce risk of breast cancerDenise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Washington School of PharmacyData being analyzed
Genes and Aspirin Response in Alaska Native PeopleTo explore how differences in genes affect how people respond to aspirin, a medication used to reduce risk of heart attacks.Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPH, MSPharmUniversity of WashingtonRecruiting participants
Genes and Warfarin (Coumadin?) ResponseTo determine whether differences in genes affect dose of warfarin needed to get to a therapeutic level and prevent bleeding eventsRenee Robinson, PharmDUniversity of Washington Department of PharmaceuticsData being analyzed
Knowledge and Preferred Utilization of Suicide Prevention Resources Among Alaska Native/American Indian People in Southcentral AlaskaTo describe resilience and protective factors among
Alaska Native and American Indian people with a history of suicidal thoughts or actions.		Jennifer Shaw, PhDSouthcentral Foundation Behavioral Health DivisionPublication in progress
NARCH Faculty Development CoreTo provide opportunities for bi-directional and multi-level learning between University of Washington and SCF and to develop a cadre of Alaska Native and American Indian scientists and health research professions through fulfillment of four aims.Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPHPublications in progress
NARCH IX Faculty Development CoreEvaluate and enhance SCF Research Department staff's clinical and translational research skills, scientific writing skills and dissemination efforts to the community.Vanessa Hiratsuka, PhD MPHUniversity of WashingtonSubmitted new research study packet to Alaska area IRB
Perspectives on Data-Sharing Involving Alaska Native and American Indian Health InformationThrough key informant interviews, this program will characterize major data-sharing activities involving Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) health information.Vanessa Hiratsuka, PhD MPHSubmitted new research study packet to Alaska area IRB
Native - Controlling Hypertension and Risks through TechnologyTo establish partnerships to study high blood pressure. One study will test whether home blood pressure monitors reduce blood pressure.Denise Dillard, PhD and Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPH, MSPharmUniversity of Colorado Denver and
Washington State University
Recruiting participants
Nurse Home VisitingTo determine the impact of an adapted Nurse Family SCF Research Partnership (NFP) program on major maternal and child health.Vanessa Hiratsuka, PhD, MPHUniversity of Colorado Denver Prevention Research Center for Family and Child HealthData being analyzed
Online Trauma SupportDevelop and evaluate the acceptability and usability of 3 web-based modules (patient, clinician, & clinical monitoring) that address the consequences of trauma.Denise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Colorado DenverData being analyzed
Pediatric Studies with Native CommunitiesTo establish partnerships to study health priorities of Alaska Native children.Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPH, MSPharmAlaska Native Tribal Health ConsortiumJust awarded
Perceptions of Alcohol Misuse and Sobriety in an Alaska Native Health SystemTo identify what treatment and prevention options SCF customer-owners, providers, and leaders think should be in place to reduce alcohol misuse and support sobrietyDenise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Washington School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research InstituteRecruiting Participants
Southcentral Foundation Administrative Core for Alaska Native ResearchManage administrative functions, coordinate research activities, direct ongoing evaluation, and lead strategic planning.Denise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Washington, Kaiser Permanente, University of Minnesota, University of Colorado Denver, Alaska Pacific University, and Indian Health Service
Southcentral Foundation Student Development Core for Alaska Native ResearchTo increase students and entry-level employees awareness of an interest in health research and other science related careers through fulfillment of 3 specific aims.Renee Robinson, PharmD, MPHN/A
Suicide PreventionTo obtain feedback about SCF's suicide prevention services from SCF customer-owners.Jennifer Shaw, PhDSCF Behavioral Services DivisionData being analyzed
Teen Tobacco ScreeningTo identify improvements in teen tobacco and electronic cigarette use screeningVanessa Hiratsuka, PhD, MPHUniversity of Washington Partnerships for Native HealthData being analyzedPatient and Provider Factors Associated with American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescent Tobacco Use Screening
Trauma ScreeningTo develop and test feasibility and acceptability of a screening, brief intervention, and referral process for trauma.Denise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Colorado Denver Center for American Indian and Alaska Native HealthData being analyzedDevelopment of a Screening and Brief Intervention Process for Symptoms of Psychological Trauma Among Primary Care Patients of Two American Indian and Alaska Native Health Systems
University of Washington Patient Centered Outcome Research and SCF Research PartnershipTo develop a program of training in advanced methods of Comparative Effectiveness Research/Patient Centered Outcomes ResearchDenise Dillard, PhDUniversity of Washington School of PharmacyData being analyzed