History
AIRN began with a core group of researchers from a variety of disciplines based in four universities across Atlantic Canada, who applied for and successfully received funding to jointly target research on prevention strategies, interventions and policy and to enhance capacity and maximize productivity by coming together to contribute to a research agenda for the prevention and enhancement of care of Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
Originally funded for four years from 2005-09 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and specifically the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) under an Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) grant, AIRN’s funding expired in March 31, 2009. To date, AIRN has been successful in developing a stakeholder network of over 250 individuals and organizations in Atlantic Canada with an interest in HIV/AIDS and HCV, developing knowledge transfer and exchange mechanisms to share research, forming an Advisory Committee of policy makers, academic researchers, and community-based stakeholders to support the movement of evidence into action, undertaking research in key areas with stakeholders, and in building capacity within the region to undertake research (through the mentorship and provision of awards to students via a competitive process).
As the previous funding was drawing to a close, there was a need to determine a path for future years which included the development of a sustainability plan to enable AIRN to continue its work. AIRN collaborated with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) and other regional networks across Canada to join forces to address the HIV epidemic. The CIHR Centre for Research Evidence into Action for Community Health (REACH) in HIV/AIDS was established by an initiative of the CIHR to respond to the critical need for more broadly conceptualized, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research to advance our understanding of the factors that increase vulnerability and risk for individuals and communities, and the factors, supports and interventions that lead to more resiliency, enhancing individual and community health and well being.
AIRN works to share information and coordinate research efforts in HIV and HCV throughout the Atlantic provinces to improve the quality of life of those affected by HIV and HCV and to shape policy and program responses. Coordinating efforts across the Atlantic region has a much greater impact, particularly with respect to information dissemination, knowledge uptake, and policy development.
Originally funded for four years from 2005-09 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and specifically the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) under an Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) grant, AIRN’s funding expired in March 31, 2009. To date, AIRN has been successful in developing a stakeholder network of over 250 individuals and organizations in Atlantic Canada with an interest in HIV/AIDS and HCV, developing knowledge transfer and exchange mechanisms to share research, forming an Advisory Committee of policy makers, academic researchers, and community-based stakeholders to support the movement of evidence into action, undertaking research in key areas with stakeholders, and in building capacity within the region to undertake research (through the mentorship and provision of awards to students via a competitive process).
As the previous funding was drawing to a close, there was a need to determine a path for future years which included the development of a sustainability plan to enable AIRN to continue its work. AIRN collaborated with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) and other regional networks across Canada to join forces to address the HIV epidemic. The CIHR Centre for Research Evidence into Action for Community Health (REACH) in HIV/AIDS was established by an initiative of the CIHR to respond to the critical need for more broadly conceptualized, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research to advance our understanding of the factors that increase vulnerability and risk for individuals and communities, and the factors, supports and interventions that lead to more resiliency, enhancing individual and community health and well being.
AIRN works to share information and coordinate research efforts in HIV and HCV throughout the Atlantic provinces to improve the quality of life of those affected by HIV and HCV and to shape policy and program responses. Coordinating efforts across the Atlantic region has a much greater impact, particularly with respect to information dissemination, knowledge uptake, and policy development.
