U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, discussed health disparities affecting Alaska Native communities with National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jayanta Bhattacharya, MD, PhD. The conversation addressed ongoing challenges in health outcomes for Alaska Natives and the federal trust responsibility held by NIH toward Tribal nations.
During the committee session, Murkowski stated: “I appreciate the responses that you had to Senator Collins, particularly as they related to challenges for early-career scientists and what we do to inspire and encourage them to stay here in this country and to see the opportunities here. I am hopeful that the modernization plans you are prioritizing really do focus on some of these retention matters. I think it’s so important across so many different spaces.”
She continued: “I also want to acknowledge her question and your response as it related to women’s health, and the need to ensure that when we’re talking about health disparities—when we are looking at specific populations—we don’t just say, ‘Well, we have to put everybody in the same bucket, and a rising tide lifts all ships.'”
Murkowski highlighted that certain groups face unique health disparities: “We can’t simply focus on everybody when, in fact, there are certain populations that do have health disparities that are remarkable—usually in a negative way—and that’s certainly the case for Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. You and I have had a conversation about this.”
She added: “These communities continue to experience some of the highest health disparities: lower life expectancy, higher rates of chronic disease, behavioral health challenges, and suicide, particularly in remote and rural areas. Making sure that when it comes to health research and access to care we are addressing these areas is critical, so that we can really focus on why these significant health disparities exist.”
Murkowski asked Bhattacharya about NIH’s understanding of these issues: “You’ve mentioned, in response to Senator Collins, your efforts related to women’s health, and you mentioned minorities in general. But can you speak to your understanding of the disparities as they affect Alaska Native and Native American communities, and NIH’s responsibility? This is a different responsibility because you have a federal trust responsibility to our Tribal nations.”
Bhattacharya responded: “Absolutely, Senator. Thank you for asking that question.
“I’ve had the privilege of multiple multi-day meetings with Tribal councils to understand the challenges of doing research with those populations. You’re absolutely right—the health needs of those populations are severe: higher rates of diabetes, high rates of alcoholism and drug abuse, and much lower life expectancy.
“I entirely agree that we have a special obligation—a special treaty obligation—to help.
“At the same time, there is deep distrust in those communities toward researchers. They don’t want a scientist like me descending on them to do research. What they want is community participation in research.
“I’ve been working with folks at the NIH to make that a reality where Native communities have input into the research questions that get asked and have control over the biosamples they contribute to these projects. I want to build that trust relationship so that we can help answer the questions that will make those communities healthier.”
Murkowski concluded by inviting further collaboration: “I would also offer some of the expertise that we have in Alaska and would welcome a visit for you to sit with some of these experts to discuss this further.”
Senator Murkowski was born in Ketchikan as a third-generation Alaskan according to her official website. She has worked extensively on issues affecting Alaska Natives and rural Alaska according to her official site, focusing legislative efforts on supporting these communities as noted online. She represents Alaska as part of her role within the U.S. Senate as detailed by her office.
