Nanibaa’ Garrison

Nanibaa’ Garrison is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Academic Personnel & Development Initiatives at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She holds appointments in the Institute for Society and Genetics, Institute for Precision Health, and the Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research. Her primary teaching role is within UCLA’s genetic counseling master’s program.

Dr. Garrison earned her PhD in Genetics from Stanford University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in bioethics at Stanford’s Center for Biomedical Ethics. Her research focuses on ethical, social, and cultural implications of genetic research in Indigenous communities, emphasizing community-based approaches to develop equitable policies and guidance for genomics research.

Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, addressing topics such as Indigenous data sovereignty, genomic equity, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into research frameworks. Notable contributions include applying the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance to ecological and biomedical research contexts, and advocating for diversity in genomic studies.

Selected publications highlight her focus on community engagement, tribal consent models, and addressing underrepresentation in genomics. She has contributed book chapters on evolving consent practices and case studies of Indigenous bioethical challenges, such as the Havasupai Tribe’s legal case against genetic researchers.