The world of research is dynamic, an ever-changing environment where robust therapies are discovered and tested, and one day put into practice. Avera Research Institute plays a vital role in national clinical trials, participating in several for pediatrics and community and faculty-initiated studies.
That’s where Avera Research Institute comes in. We build upon Avera’s strong commitment to population health, particularly American Indian health, and the integration of clinical research studies within the health system.
To conduct our research, we have offices in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Pine Ridge, SD, where our researchers engage in partnerships with American Indian communities, community-based organizations and clinics/hospitals.
IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network
In 2020, Avera Research Institute joined the ECHO IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN) as a new opportunity to bring clinical trials to IDeA eligible states/territories identified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ECHO program established ISPCTN to ensure access to clinical trials for states that have historically low NIH funding. In addition to the overall ECHO goal, the focus of the Network includes:
- Providing access to state-of-the-art clinical trials to medically underserved and rural population in the five ECHO key pediatric outcomes that have a high public health impact.
- Building national pediatric research capacity to conduct clinical trials by providing team support, infrastructure building, and professional development for faculty including early state investigators.
Experts in Community Research
Child Health Research
Avera is one of only 35 nationwide cohorts chosen to participate in Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, (ECHO) – a national research program launched and supported by the National Institutes of Health. The goal of this study is to improve child and adolescent health by looking at how a broad range of environmental influences – including sleep, nutrition, allergens and social relationships – affect children both prenatally and after birth.
ECHO builds upon research completed during the Safe Passage study, a project that investigated the association between prenatal alcohol exposures, SIDS, and stillbirth. The ECHO study is also enrolling women who are currently pregnant and planning to deliver at any hospital within the Avera Health footprint or a Monument Health facility.
Population Health Research
Our team is dedicated to population health, an approach to health that aims to improve the health of an entire population. Avera Research Institute has focused particularly on the health of American Indian populations. A few studies our team has conducted include:
Questions about Participating in Research?
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial at Avera, take time to learn more about clinical research studies and the role of participants. Find out what to expect when you become a research study participant.
Evaluation Services
Avera Research Institute offers evaluation services that are cooperative and culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of collaborators. Examples of this work include:
- Developing a proposal for a federal or private grant program
- Planning and conducting an efficacy study designed to meet evidence-based standards
- Planning and conducting a cost effectiveness study of a program or policy
- Working with a health care or school leadership team to plan, roll out, and test new initiatives
