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Research, Epidemiology, & Applied Studies
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We research what matters most to you.
Health research is essential to achieving ANTHC’s vision that Alaska Native people are the healthiest people in the world. Our research focuses on issues relevant to and is overseen by Alaska Native people.
The research we produce is both culturally respectful and responsive as we aim to eliminate health gaps Alaska Native people experience.
Services and Programs:
ANTHC Epidemiology Center
At the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center (commonly known as the “EpiCenter”) our primary goal is to improve the health of Alaska Native people.
We accomplish this by gathering and reporting on health data, providing technical assistance, and supporting initiatives that promote health.
Contact
P: 907-729-4567
anepicenter@anthc.org
epi.anthc.org
Data Dashboard
Research Services
ANTHC Research Services aims to meet the health needs of Alaska Native people and explore solutions to health disparities. From reducing rates of hepatitis to looking at the impact of diet on colon cancer, our research is as diverse as the population we serve.
ANTHC Research Services is committed to conducting health research in collaboration with Tribal and non-Tribal partners for the benefit of Alaska Native people by building on strengths and promoting health and wellness.
All research at ANTHC is reviewed and approved through a Tribal review process that supports research to enhance health care and overall health outcomes of Alaska Native people.
Biorepository
We oversee the ANTHC Pathology Specimen Archive, with policies and procedures in place to ensure that ethical standards are being met. The biorepository containing 600,000+ formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks and slides collected from Alaska Native and American Indian patients since the 1960s. Archive specimens are available for approved research and clinical care.
Research services also has a strong partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the Alaska Area Specimen Bank, with samples that can allow the assessment of disease prevalence or contribute to the understanding of the natural history of disease.
Research Support Services
To support the comprehensive research taking place at ANTHC, the following team and resources are available to the department:
- Biostatistics
- Research Data Management
- The Research Data Management team use REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), the NIHendorsed electronic data capture and management tool, for data storage. This ensures compliance with human research regulations and maintains data security.
- Research Nurses
- Research Associates
Community Engagement
At ANTHC, one of the three major ways research is developed, designed, and disseminated is through collaboration with Tribal partners. This looks different at different stages of a research project and for different types of research.
In 2025, ANTHC convened a Research Advisory Network by inviting Tribal health organizations across the state to participate. There is a range of readiness to lead research and there is a strong desire to build a community to have a shared understanding of processes and priorities.
We also have available a Research Consultation Committee constituted of Alaska Native and American Indian people who work at ANTHC in many different capacities, not necessarily in research. This committee meets monthly and provides a forum for researchers to discuss and receive input on research ideas, recruitment flyers, consent forms, etc. from individuals who represent the community.
Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program
Our goal is to improve the health of Alaska Native persons who either have or are at risk of getting viral hepatitis or other liver diseases.
Contact
P: 907-729-1560
Toll-free: 1-800-655-4837
Clinic Information
Program Page
Publications
Capacity Building
We are committed to building research capacity in Alaska Native communities through education and training. ANTHC Research Services does this through Alaska Native-centered, cross-cultural workshops, research internships, Health Research Conference and specific topic symposiums, and the Alaska Indigenous Research Program.
Contact
907-729-2495
research@anthc.org
Alaska Native Health Research Conference
The Alaska Native Health Research Conference brings the Alaska research community together to foster new connections and share research conducted with and by Alaska Native people. ANTHC Research Services and our partners present research on the following topics:
- Climate, Environment, and Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Health Care Delivery and Systems
- Health Disparities
- Social Determinates of Health
- Mental Health
- Oral Health
- Telemedicine
- Cancer
- Chronic Disease
Visit the conference webpage, here.
Alaska Indigenous Research Program (AKIRP)
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Alaska Pacific University came together to create the Alaska Indigenous Research Program (AKIRP).
The goal of AKIRP is to increase the amount of research that is both culturally aware and respectful and focuses on the unique location and specific health needs of Alaska Native people.
AKIRP 2026 Save The Date
AKIRP Internship Card
AKIRP Internship One-Pager
To review agenda, speaker and register click here.
Online Research Webinar
ANTHC Research Services hosts one-hour educational sessions open to the public via Zoom. The research brown bags are designed to keep attendees aware of current health research involving Alaska Native and American Indian people. The methods brown bags are an educational “how to” series for researchers, with the goal to enhance research capacity throughout Alaska. Professional continuing education credits are provided through this brown bag series.
If you would like to receive the Zoom links for the brown bags, or you are a researcher who is interested in giving a presentation, email researchbrownbags@anthc.org or call 907-729-2906.
Research Ethics Training
Research Services provides research ethics training multiple times per year using the Research Ethics Training for Health in Indigenous Communities (rETHICS) curriculum.
Research Review
To be eligible for ANTHC Health Research Review Committee (HRRC) review, all research proposals must first be reviewed and approved by the IHS Alaska Area Institutional Review Board (AAIRB) akaalaskaareairb@anthc.org.
Prior to HRRC review, all research abstracts, manuscripts, medical case reports and proposals receive preliminary review by the Abstracts, Manuscripts and Proposals Review Committee (AMP-RC) ResearchReviewCmtee@anthc.org who provide feedback to authors and investigators and recommend approval to the HRRC.
Contact
Alaska Area Institutional Review Board:
akaalaskaareairb@anthc.org
ANTHC Research Review:
ResearchReviewCmtee@anthc.org
Southcentral Foundation Research Review:
scfresearchreview@scf.cc
Health Research: Projects and Publications
We conduct community driven health research, which includes clinical, translational and social science research. We then look to share our research findings in meaningful ways with local partners, other populations who could benefit, and the scientific community.
Contact
What is Health Research?
Using research to combat cancer rates among Alaska Native people
ANTHC is working with regional Tribal health organizations to increase screening by 10% annually at their clinics, with the ultimate goal of decreasing the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer among Alaska Native people.