Building Tribal Capacity through Informing the Development of Tribal Research Codes to Govern Genomic Research: A Collaboration between Cherokee Nation and the University of Oklahoma

Project Summary The changing landscape of genomic research and the emergence of new biotechnologies presents opportunities to grow tribal research capacity in collaborative ways that reflect sovereign data practices and dynamic tribal interests. This proposal builds on a record of collaboration between Cherokee Nation and University of Oklahoma (OU) researchers that addresses the ethical, legal and social questions tribal nations face as they navigate the changing role of genomic research in their communities, and promotes training of AI/AN students to pursue research in genomics and health related fields. We propose to inform the development of a set of tribal research codes to govern genomics and other biomedical research involving bio- specimens for Cherokee Nation.