CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research

Community-Based Research Program
Background
Contact information

Community-Based Research Program

The CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research (CBR) Program has a mission to strengthen and support a diverse, inclusive and collaborative research community that applies community-based, holistic and inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to create and mobilize knowledge for better and equitable prevention, testing, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS and STBBI in Canada and around the world as outlined in the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative Strategic Plan 2022-2027.

As part of the strategic plan commitment to improving health equity, strengthening research capacity and mobilizing knowledge, the CBR Program supports the partnered work of community leaders and researchers in knowledge development and capacity-building initiatives of relevance to communities engaged in the fight against HIV and/or other STBBI.

What is community-based research?

The CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI RI considers CBR as a community-driven or community-led approach to research that supports collaborative partnerships between community leaders, community members (particularly people with lived/living experience), and researchers from academic or other research institutions. CBR also promotes the participatory action of community members and people with lived/living experience throughout the research process to ensure projects are aligned with community priorities and to maximize the potential to improve the health of people living with or at risk for infection with HIV, Hepatitis C and other STBBI. The approach combines research, education, knowledge sharing, and action for social change to improve community health and eliminate health disparities. CBR empowers members of the community to:

identify the issues;
generate and/or collect, analyze and interpret the data; and
decide how to use the results to inform policy, change practice and improve conditions in the community.

Moreover, CBR brings innovation to research by supporting novel methodologies, new models of care, holistic approaches rooted in community needs and values, and promoting sexual and reproductive health. Researchers from academic and other research institutions bring knowledge of scientific methodology and rigor, and experience in mentorship of future researchers. CBR therefore promotes bi-directional sharing and learning, equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each partner brings.

Background

2006-2015: CIHR Community-Based Research Steering Committee

Between the years 2006-2015, the CIHR CBR Steering Committee contributed greatly to the deployment of a decade of HIV CBR funding opportunities when most needed. Its members came from across Canada and included individuals from the academic sector, policy makers, emerging researchers, community-based researchers and most notably HIV leaders, many of whom brought their lived experience and community liaison to the committee. A total of over 50 persons served on the committee over the years, supported by various CIHR staff members. CIHR wants to thank the former members of the CBR Steering Committees over the years for their leadership and valuable contributions to the research enterprise.

Highlights of accomplishments of the Steering Committee

Guided the work of and disseminated the results of the work of the Community-Based Research Facilitators (CBRFs, initially called Research Technical Assistants). The Committee acted as a liaison between the stakeholders reached by the CBRFs in their regions and the funding program.
Consulted on key changes at CIHR such as the supporting the Aboriginal funding stream, and the Review of Ethics Boards which was key in putting CBR principles in action on the ground.
Championed the introduction of the Community CV, which helped applicant communities highlight non-academic accomplishments when applying to CIHR funding opportunities.
Monitored the HIV CBR application pressure and offered insights on the root causes for positive or negative changes.
The Committee, CBRFs and prominent CBR practitioners made a well-attended presentation at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto titled "Community-based Research in Canada: Innovations and Partnerships to Improve Health Outcomes for People living with HIV and Communities at Risk" which set the tone of national CBR for years to come.
Advised CHARAC and CIHR on emerging issues and necessary changes to the HIV CBR process and shared lessons learned across CIHR (i.e. the need to support communities and AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) as partners in the drafting of CBR proposals, and integrating graduate students as trainees, as well as the development of key documents such as the Memoranda of Understanding, and Letters of Intent).
The Universities Without Walls eLearning program, a partnership between the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Canadian Association for HIV Research and CIHR, was originally conceived as a single "video project" at the heart of this Committee.
Was involved in the 2008-2009 evaluation of the HIV CBR Program.

2015-Present: Incorporation with CHARAC/CHASRAC

In 2015, a decision was made to incorporate the CBR Steering Committee mandate into that of CHARAC. The terms of reference and membership of CHARAC (changed to CHASRAC in 2019) were changed to reflect the need to include CBR in CHARAC decision making.

In 2018-2019, in line with the Federal approach to better integrate HIV/AIDS and STBBI research, CIHR expanded the scope of the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative to include other STBBI. As a result of this expanded scope, the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative has also evolved to support the implementation of an integrated approach of the CBR program as well.

Useful links

Contact information

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Officers are available Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and until 8 p.m. ET on application deadline days.

Date modified:: 2024-03-11

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