The new Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs) Clinical Trials Research (CTN+), led by Prof. Marina Klein at McGill, has secured an impressive $25 million in funding over the next five years. Dr. Guillaume Fontaine, Director of the RISE³ Lab, is one of the Principal Investigators and the National Co-Lead for the Methods Think Tank. His role will focus on advancing the integration of implementation science research to bolster national efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and STBBIs in Canada.
The CTN+ prioritizes regional research capacity by fostering, developing, and supporting research teams in regions across Canada. These regional teams, which include researchers, community members, and Indigenous representation, champion the knowledge needs of those in their local communities. The focus on regional capacity and engagement is informed by the Network’s objective to uphold Indigenous rights and move towards truth and reconciliation, recognizing the power of research and knowledge mobilization to improve health equity across the country.
The network also features a community-centered Knowledge Mobilization Hub (KM Hub), which aims maximize the impact of research for the benefit of policy change and improved services, support collaborations between academic and community partners, and help make research actionable and accessible.
This network will also offer incredible training and funding opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows—more details coming soon!
You can learn more about the CTN+ here: https://www.ctnplus.ca