Translational Biomarkers Core, Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity (CAIRHE)

The overall goal of the Translational Biomarkers Core (TBC) of the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity (CAIRHE) is to help COBRE-supported, other Montana State University (MSU), and local/regional investigators pursue multidisciplinary biomedical research by providing facilities, instrumentation,

analytical services, and consultation and training on biomarker assessments for diet, lifestyle, mental/emotional health, and chronic disease. Conducting validated and culturally relevant biomedical research addressing social determinants of health is a key research challenge in the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) state

of Montana, which lacks a medical school and is home to Indigenous and rural populations that face significant health disparities. To address this need, CAIRHE established the TBC in COBRE Phase I to strengthen the biomedical research capacity of its early-career investigators, both current and future, and to support

translational interventions and clinical trials that address health equity. Beyond CAIRHE investigators, the TBC also supports the Center’s close IDeA program collaborator at MSU, Montana INBRE, as well as other public health and biomedical researchers at MSU, and local and regional clinical, industry, and non-academic entities.

The use of validated biomarkers is important in translational public health research, including community- based research, because it provides objective evaluation of lifestyle behaviors and linkages to chronic disease and other health outcomes. Within a multidisciplinary, community-based health equity center composed largely

of social scientists, the TBC’s analytical support of early-career investigators pursuing translational research on social determinants of health is highly innovative and unique at MSU. COBRE Phase III funding will allow the Core to continue to provide subsidized support to CAIRHE pilot project leaders, with the goal of advancing their

research toward R01-level applications. Moreover, Phase III funding will allow the Core to continue building and broadening its fee-based clientele including former CAIRHE project leaders, other MSU investigators, local and regional research partners, and affiliate institutions throughout the Montana INBRE network. This

continued growth of fee-paying clientele is essential to the long-term sustainability of the Core. To meet these objectives, the Core will continue to pursue the following three Specific Aims: 1) Provide and maintain state-of- the-art laboratory instrumentation; 2) Provide lab analytical services for conducting biomarker assessments;

and 3) Provide biomarker research consultation and training to investigators. An effective Core is an indispensable part of the Center’s overarching aim to be the state and regional leader in multidisciplinary, community-based health equity research, thereby improving the health of Indigenous and rural communities.

Ultimately a strong Core will accelerate the mitigation of health disparities linked to lifestyle and socioeconomic factors in underserved communities in Montana.