American Cancer Society funds Godfrey’s Navajo diabetes and cancer prevention project

The University of Arizona College of Nursing is proud to announce that Timian M. Godfrey, PhD(c), DNP, FNP-BC, FWAN, FAAN, associate clinical professor and member of the Navajo Nation, has received a pilot project grant through the 2025 American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS-IRG). The one-year award will support Godfrey’s project, Collaborative Psychosocial Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes Management and Cancer Risk Reduction with Navajo Adults and Their Caregivers.

The ACS-IRG program aims to support early-stage investigators as they begin their research and gather initial data needed for larger federal grants. Godfrey’s project is expected to deliver actionable results that will guide future, large-scale studies focused on enhancing health equity and reducing cancer disparities in Indigenous populations.

Godfrey’s research will focus on creating a culturally grounded intervention aimed at enhancing type 2 diabetes management and lowering cancer risk among Navajo adults and their caregivers. Guided by Indigenous health concepts such as kinship, the project will collaborate closely with community members to identify available resources, address barriers to care, and incorporate behavioral strategies that support improved health outcomes.

According to the CDC, an estimated 100,000 Navajo, about half of the adult population, are living with either type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, compared with 9.4% of the adult US population. Cancer is currently the third leading cause of death among the Navajo people, and they are often diagnosed at relatively advanced stages of cancer compared to other groups.

“This project is deeply personal to me,” said Godfrey. “As a member of the Navajo Nation, I am committed to bringing Indigenous health concepts into behavioral interventions that address health disparities. This award will help launch my career as an independent investigator and strengthen my research partnerships with tribal communities in Arizona.”

Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing, praised the award’s broader impact, saying, “Dr. Godfrey’s work is a powerful example of how our faculty, in collaboration with other university researchers, are driving innovation that meets the unique needs of diverse communities. This project aligns perfectly with our college’s mission to improve health equity and will create meaningful change for Navajo families while advancing cancer prevention science.”

The project will be carried out in partnership with a multidisciplinary University of Arizona mentoring team, including Terry Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, FAPOS, professor and Eleanor Bauwens Endowed Chair at the College of Nursing. She will provide primary mentorship in study design, scientific writing, and dissemination. Also involved from Public Health are Adriana Maldonado, PhD, assistant professor whose research focuses on social and contextual influences on cancer risk in Hispanic populations; David O. Garcia, PhD, associate professor and founder of Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud, who will oversee trial implementation and community engagement strategies; and Jennifer Bea, PhD, professor and Co-Lead of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the U of A Cancer Center, who will mentor Godfrey in assessing lifestyle-related cancer risk factors.

Badger praised Godfrey’s dedication to her community, saying, “This project is a great example of how culturally grounded, innovative methods can truly improve diabetes management and cancer prevention among a focused population. As both a clinician and a member of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Godfrey is ideally suited to lead this effort and make a lasting impact both in nursing science and in this medically underserved population.”

 “Dr. Godfrey’s work exemplifies the college’s commitment to advancing health equity through community-engaged research,” said Lindsay Bouchard, DNP, PMHNP-BC, associate clinical professor, DNP Program Director, and Interim Chair. “This project not only tackles critical health challenges faced by Navajo adults and their caregivers but also helps cultivate the next generation of nurse scientists dedicated to cancer prevention.”

Through this work, Godfrey hopes to lay the foundation for a robust program of research focused on cancer disparities and to advance her career as an implementation scientist. “I look forward to learning from Navajo community members about the resources and strategies that can best support health,” she said. “Together, we can create interventions that are meaningful, culturally relevant, and sustainable.”

By integrating culturally grounded research with mentorship from leading experts, this project marks a significant step toward reducing health disparities for Navajo communities and beyond. The knowledge gained from Godfrey’s work will shape future interventions aimed at preventing cancer and managing diabetes in Indigenous populations.