Nanibaa' Garrison facts for kids

Náníbaaʼ Garrison is a scientist and professor who studies bioethics and genetics. She works at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a member of the Navajo Nation. Her work focuses on health issues and how people in the Navajo community feel about genetic research.

Education and Early Work

Náníbaaʼ Garrison earned her PhD in genetics from Stanford University. Her studies there looked at how human skin color is passed down through genes.

After her PhD, she continued her research at Stanford. She studied a legal case called ASU Board of Regents v. Havasupai Tribe. This case was about how genetic research affected an Indigenous community. Dr. Garrison interviewed scientists and people who oversee research (called Institutional Review Boards or IRBs). She then wrote ideas on how to do genetic research fairly with Indigenous groups in the future.

Research and Career Focus

Understanding Genetics and Communities

Dr. Garrison is a professor at UCLA. She used to teach at Vanderbilt University and the Seattle Children's Research Institute. In 2016, she received a special grant to support her work.

Her project is called 'Genomics and Native Communities: Perspectives, Ethics, and Engagement'. She wants to learn what tribal leaders, doctors, scientists, and lawmakers think about genetic research. This helps make sure research is done in a way that respects Indigenous communities.

In 2019, Dr. Garrison worked with another researcher, Katrina Claw. They surveyed Navajo leaders and community members. They wanted to understand their concerns about genetic research.

Dr. Garrison has also helped the Navajo Nation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) agree on how to share health information. This agreement allows researchers to use health information from Navajo people who agree to share it. However, it does not allow access to genetic data or samples, which has been against the rules since 2002.

Helping Future Scientists

Dr. 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 their cultural values. It also helps more Indigenous people become scientists, leaders, and teachers.

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 control their own data.

Awards and Recognition

In 2009, Dr. Garrison received the Anne Ninham Medicine Mentorship Award. This award came from the American Indian Staff Forum at Stanford University. 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).