SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Participation

NIH recognizes the government-to-government relationship between the United States and federally recognized Indian Tribes and conducts Tribal consultation in accordance with the NIH Tribal Consultation Policy (go.nih.gov/​C01PhB8). The Policy provides a process for meaningful and timely input from Indian Tribes on NIH policies, programs, and research activities that significantly affect Tribes.

NIH invites Tribal Officials and Tribal Representatives, as those terms are defined in the Policy, to provide input during the October 19 and October 20 Tribal consultations. Under the Policy, a Tribal Representative may include an elected Tribal Official acting in an official capacity, or an employee or other representative designated in writing by an elected Tribal Official to represent the Tribe in discussions with the Federal Government.

The October 20 Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy event is a listening session rather than a Tribal consultation. It is intended to inform development of the policy before NIH conducts a separate Tribal consultation.

II. NIH All of Us Research Program Tribal Consultation

On Monday, October 19, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, NIH will conduct a Tribal consultation concerning two new initiatives within the All of Us Research Program. The All of Us Research Program aims to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs to enable an era of precision medicine for all. All of Us is expanding its existing data access model to contain an added level of sensitive participant data that will require mandatory review by an Institutional Review Board. It is also planning to include self-identified AI/AN participants in the PRS initiative involving a large-scale biospecimen analysis effort. This effort will allow researchers external to NIH to apply for access to current participants' samples (such as blood, saliva or urine), including those from self-identified AI/AN participants.

Feedback from Tribal Nations is crucial to shaping the program's strategies to ensure the use of biospecimens and that access to data aligns with priorities of Tribal and Urban Indian communities. All of Us would like to discuss how to (1) responsibly manage self-identified AI/AN participant bio samples in partnered research studies and ensure the research yields meaningful community benefits and (2) manage sensitive data access that honors both an individual's and Tribes' rights.

III. NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy Listening Session

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, NIH THRO will host a listening session on the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy currently under development. The session will provide a forum for Tribal Leaders and designees to offer guidance and share perspectives, concerns, and recommendations on how NIH funding announcements, grant mechanisms, and research activities should recognize and uphold the inherent sovereignty of Tribal Nations over data generated by, about, and within their communities.

THRO leadership will hear directly from Tribal Leaders and designees and consider their input as NIH develops the policy, including potential funding opportunity announcement language and grants administration practices. Discussion is expected to address how NIH can better align data collection, management and sharing processes with Tribal laws, codes, and ordinances governing data collection, ownership, access, use, and disposition, including Tribal Institutional Review Board requirements, data-sharing agreements, and Tribal Research Codes.

This listening session is not a Tribal consultation and will not substitute for Tribal consultation on the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy. NIH will conduct a separate Tribal consultation before the policy is finalized. Information about that Tribal consultation will be announced separately.

IV. NIMHD Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiology Centers Tribal Consultation

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific time, NIH will conduct a Tribal consultation on proposed revisions to the renewal of the NIMHD Resource Center for Tribal Epidemiological Centers (RC-TEC) initiative. The session will provide an overview of the proposed revisions, their potential implications for Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) and the Tribes they serve, and an opportunity for Tribal input.

The consultation will help ensure that the revised initiative reflects Tribal priorities and the essential role of TECs in strengthening Tribal public health capacity, surveillance, data systems, and health sovereignty. NIH will provide an overview of the proposed revisions to the renewal of the RC-TEC initiative and describe potential key changes, their potential implications for TECs and the Tribes they serve in order to support transparency and strengthen government-to-government engagement.

V. Written Tribal Testimony and Comments

NIH welcomes written Tribal testimony or comments concerning each Tribal consultation. Written submissions should be submitted to NIHTribalConsultation@nih.gov and must be received by end of day on November 20, 2026. Submissions should be on Tribal letterhead or otherwise clearly identify the submitting Tribe or Tribal organization.

Written input for the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy may be submitted to the NIHTribalConsultation@nih.gov. Solicitation for Tribal testimony for the NIH Tribal Data Sovereignty Policy will occur when the Tribal consultation for the Policy takes place. This Notice is in accordance with Executive Order 13175 Authority to implement and comply with Federal and Departmental policies, procedures, and requirements as it relates to Tribal consultations.

91 FR 62532