RESEARCH


Information
 Phone: (907) 729-8623
 Fax: (907) 729-5464

 research@scf.cc

 Research Department
 4501 Diplomacy Drive
 Anchorage, AK 99508

Southcentral Foundation recognizes the value of research in the medical, social and physical sciences to Alaska Native people and society in general. SCF is also committed to the encouragement of careers in research among Alaska Native and American Indian people.


The Research Department at SCF conducts research that is driven by the special needs and concerns of Alaska Native people. The knowledge gained from this effort is used to develop new ways of preventing health problems and treating diseases.


The SCF Board of Directors oversees all research in which our customer/owners participate. SCF also hires expert research staff to ensure the technical quality of the research. Whenever the study involves human participants, SCF places top priority on their safety and privacy. Before any project can proceed, it must be approved by the Institutional Review Board and the SCF Board of Directors.


SCF customers can volunteer to take part in the following research projects:

  • Traditions of the Heart is a study for women, ages 40-64, who live in the Anchorage area. Aimed at reducing the risk for heart disease among Alaska Native women.
  • Tobacco-Free Alaska Native Families is a study for women who are pregnant. Aimed at increasing the understanding of the effects of tobacco use during pregnancy and infancy among Alaska Native women and their children.
  • Prenatal Alcohol Exposure among Alaska Native and American Indian Infants is a study for women who are pregnant. Aimed at determining the relationship between the use of alcohol by pregnant women and chemicals called fatty acid esters in the BMs of newborn babies.

There is no cost to join an SCF research project. Participants in a study have the right....

  • to drop out at any time, with no consequence;
  • to give an informed consent with full understanding of the study’s purpose, procedures, benefits and risks;
  • to be given new information about the study as it becomes available;
  • to ask questions at any time and have them answered as soon as possible.


Storytelling has been used by Alaska Native people for all of time. It brings people together, teaches across generations and shares information.


This webpage is a virtual gathering to share information about health research.


Alaska Native people want our future to be full of health and wellness. Knowing the health of your family across generations is an important part of staying well. This is called family health history. Diseases like cancer run in many of our families.


We can do things to prevent younger people from getting cancer like some of their parents and elders. Please share what you've learned from this webpage with your family and friends.


To learn more about family health history, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory.


Section I. About the Research Webpage
  A. Purpose
  B. Southcentral Foundation
  C. A Record of Success
  D. Research in Our Community
   
Section II. What is Health Research?
  A. Introduction
  B. Why It Is Important
  C. Types of Health Research
  D. Research Process
   
Section III. Study Participant Protections
  A. Belmont Report
  B. Common Rule
  C. Alaska Area Instittional Review
  D. Informed Consent
  E. Participant Rights
   
Section IV. Alaska Native People Leading Health Research
  A. Acknowledging the History
  B. Research Today
  C. Health Research and Alaska Native People
  D. Southcentral Foundation
  E. Research in Other Regions
   
Section V. Tribal Ownership of Research
  A. At Southcentral Foundation
  B. Tribal Review Process
  C. Guidelines for Researchers
   
Section VI. Health Research at Southcentral Foundation
  A. Review of our Current Projects
  B. Our Research Team
  C. Publications
  D. Contact Information
  E. Community Feedback
   
Section VI. Glossary