Child in Traditional Native American clothing
Native Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research

Cores

ADMINISTRATIVE CORE

The Administrative Core provides both day-to-day and long-term direction and support to the pilot studies, RCMAR scientists, and the Analysis Core. It will manage, coordinate, and supervise all activities, monitor progress, ensure that plans are implemented, and verify that pilot studies comply with applicable regulations and policies.

Core Members

  • Spero Manson, PhD (Pembina Chippewa)
  • James Galvin, MD, MPH
  • Clemma Muller, PhD
  • Richard MacLehose, PhD

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CORE

The Research and Education Core (REC) focuses on the population-level health disparities related to ADRD in American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, including behavioral, socio-cultural, and environmental factors. This work is grounded in the health disparities research framework endorsed by the NIA. The REC will enhance the diversity of an aging research workforce by mentoring promising RCMAR scientists investigating ADRD among AI/ANs and NHPIs. The pilot studies are the primary vehicle for training, mentoring, and providing resources to these professionals.

Core Members

REC Program Faculty and Mentors

  • Spero Manson, PhD (Pembina Chippewa)
  • Ronny Bell, PhD
  • Joseph Keawe Kaholokula, PhD
  • Richard MacLehose, PhD
  • Clemma Muller, PhD
  • Lonnie Nelson, PhD, MA (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
  • Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, PhD
  • Ka’imi Sinclair, PhD, MPH (Western Cherokee)
  • Astrid Suchy-Dicey, PhD

Experts in Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment

  • James Galvin, MD
  • John S.K Kauwe, PhD

ANALYSIS CORE

The Analysis Core ensures that funded pilot studies efficiently use study resources, apply methods that optimize validity, and yield findings with clear and meaningful inference to the larger population of interest. To achieve these goals, Analysis Core members will be intimately involved in all aspects of pilot studies. They will integrate methods from epidemiology, biostatistics, measurement development and evaluation, health economics, health services and policy, and health outcomes research. Additionally, they will augment their robust quantitative capacity with exceptional experience in qualitative methods specific to underrepresented minority communities.

Core Members

  • Richard MacLehose, PhD
  • Clemma Mueller, PhD, MS
  • Spero Manson, PhD
  • Amber Fyfe-Johnson, ND, PhD
  • Luciana Hebert, PhD
  • Carolyn Noonan, MS


THIS RESEARCH IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH UNDER AWARD NUMBER P30AG059295