Nanibaa' Garrison facts for kids

Náníbaaʼ Garrison (Diné) is a scientist who studies bioethics and genetics. Bioethics is about the right and wrong ways to use science, especially in medicine. Genetics is the study of genes and how traits are passed down. She is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Náníbaaʼ is a member of the Navajo Nation, a Native American tribe. Her work often focuses on health issues and how the Navajo community feels about genetic research.

Náníbaaʼ Garrison's Education

Náníbaaʼ Garrison went to Stanford University for her Ph.D. in genetics. A special grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) helped her with her studies. At Stanford, she researched how human skin color and other traits are passed down through genes.

After her Ph.D., she continued her studies at Stanford in biomedical ethics. She looked into a famous court case called ASU Board of Regents v. Havasupai Tribe. This case was about how genetic research affects Native American communities. Náníbaaʼ interviewed many scientists and ethics experts about this case. She then shared ideas on how to do genetic research fairly and respectfully with Indigenous (Native) groups in the future.

Her Work and Research

What Does a Geneticist Do?

Náníbaaʼ Garrison is a faculty member for the UCLA genetic counseling master's program. This program teaches students how to help people understand genetic information. Before UCLA, she was a professor at Vanderbilt University and the Seattle Children's Research Institute.

In 2015, she joined the Division of Bioethics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The next year, she received a big grant from the National Institutes of Health. Her project, called 'Genomics and Native Communities: Perspectives, Ethics, and Engagement', explores how tribal leaders, doctors, scientists, and lawmakers view genetic research involving Indigenous communities.

Working with the Navajo Nation

In 2019, Náníbaaʼ Garrison received another grant. She worked with researcher Katrina Claw to survey Navajo leaders and community members. They wanted to understand the concerns people had about genetic research in tribal communities.

She has also helped with important talks between the Navajo Nation and the NIH. These talks led to an agreement about sharing health information. This agreement allows researchers to use health data from Navajo people who agree to share it. However, it does not allow access to genetic data or biological samples. The Navajo Nation has had a ban on sharing genetic data since 2002.

Sharing Science with Communities

Náníbaaʼ Garrison helps lead the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples (SING). This program holds workshops around the world. It helps Indigenous people learn about science and encourages more of them to become scientists, leaders, and teachers. The program also focuses on respecting Indigenous cultural values in science.

She has also been a member of the Advisory Council for the United States Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network. This group works to make sure Indigenous communities have control over their own data.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2009, Náníbaaʼ Garrison received the Anne Ninham Medicine Mentorship Award from Stanford University. This award recognized her work in guiding and supporting others. In 2012, she attended a special leadership program. It was organized by the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.