IREACH

THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH

Conducting research to promote health and health care equity among Indigenous and rural populations

The Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) is a large research institute at Washington State University (WSU) that conducts transdisciplinary research devoted to promoting health and health care equity among Indigenous and rural populations. It is one of the largest academic units dedicated to the health of Native populations in the United States and works with 150 partners in 19 states.

IREACH houses a practice-based research network of 200 primary care facilities in Washington state that serve rural, American Indian, and other underserved populations. The Institute has about 85 faculty, postdoctoral students, and staff members and a portfolio of approximately $85 million in extramural grant funding. Its members have expertise that spans public health, economics, demography, epidemiology, biostatistics, sociology, psychology, nutrition, public administration and management, and internal medicine.

IREACH is administratively located within the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

$85 Million In extramural grant funding

150 Partners In 19 states

85 Faculty, postdoctoral students, and staff In Seattle, Spokane, and Pullman

200 Primary care facilities In our practice-based research network

Explore our Research Initiatives and Programs

Northwest Health Education and Research Outcomes Network

The mission of Northwest Health Education and Research Outcomes Network, or NW HERON, is to improve the quality of clinical care and ameliorate health disparities in communities across Washington state and its bordering states.

Natives Engaged in Alzheimer’s Research

Natives Engaged in Alzheimer’s Research, or NEAR, combats disparities associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander groups.

Native-Controlling Hypertension and Risk through Technology

Native-Controlling Hypertension and Risk through Technology, or Native-CHART, aims to improve control of blood pressure and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders with diagnosed hypertension.

Native Center for Alcohol Research and Education

The mission of the Native Center for Alcohol Research and Education, or NCARE, is to optimize alcohol intervention research for public health in general and our Native community partners in particular.

Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research

The Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, or NAD-RCMAR, aims to address the Alzheimer’s disease health disparities experienced by American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. NAD-RCMAR funds pilot studies through its career development program for early-to-mid-career investigators.

Latinx Health

IREACH is committed to improving Latinx health. Many Latinx communities in Washington state are in rural areas and have historically been underserved and underinsured. To reduce these disparities, we are dedicated to academic research and the formation of community partnerships that will make meaningful contributions to Latinx health.