WSU Receives $2.7 Million to Study Alzheimer's
A five-year NIH-funded project will develop culturally tailored research materials for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
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Washington State University researchers received a $2.7 million National Institutes of Health grant to improve communication with Indigenous communities about Alzheimer's research. The project began recruiting participants this summer at the Seafair Indian Days Powwow in Seattle.
Why it matters
Indigenous communities have historically been underrepresented in biomedical research, and the project aims to build trust and participation. Culturally tailored materials could make future Alzheimer's clinical trials more inclusive.
The grant totals $2.7 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health, with funding from the National Institute on Aging. More than 300 surveys on biomarker research were conducted at the powwow, but the study's outcomes are not yet known.
The players
Washington State University
A public research university based in Pullman, Washington, whose Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) runs the project.
National Institutes of Health
The federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that funds biomedical and health research nationwide.
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
A Seattle-based nonprofit organization that partners with the project to engage Indigenous communities.
The details
The five-year Communicating Health Advancements from Native GEnomics (CHANGE) project will develop and test materials for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Researchers will interview adults about factors affecting participation, and in partnership with the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, will evaluate recruitment materials in a pilot study.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Recruitment began at the Seafair Indian Days Powwow in Seattle.
Over the five-year grant period: Materials will be developed, tested and evaluated.
Big Picture
The grant is funded through the National Institute on Aging, the NIH institute that supports Alzheimer's research. It extends that federal funding toward community-based outreach for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
The project's recruitment materials could affect whether Indigenous adults in Washington choose to join future Alzheimer's studies. Its pilot study will determine whether the materials are suitable for use in future clinical trials.
The takeaway
Building trust with underrepresented communities is central to producing research that applies to everyone. Readers interested in Alzheimer's research participation can ask local research institutions about studies that are recruiting.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Alzheimer’s research news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailyfly News.
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