Aboriginal Health Research Network Secretariat Aboriginal Health Research Network Secretariat Aboriginal Health Research Network Secretariat

The AHRNet Secretariat is the coordinating body for the nine Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research (NEAHR) centres located across Canada:

• Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program
• Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research
• Nasivvik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments
• Anisnabe Kekendazone NEAHR
• Indigenous Health Research Development Program
• Manitoba First Nations – Centre for Aboriginal Health Research
• Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre
• Alberta NEAHR
• Kloshe Tillicum

Aboriginal Health Research Network Investigators 2010-2012 Map - this map identifies the nine Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research team members.

These Centres are funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health (IAPH). The Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (IAPH) was established in June 2000, along with the twelve other Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Its role is to lead a national advanced research agenda in the area of Aboriginal health and promote innovative research that will serve to improve the health of Aboriginal people in Canada.

The NEAHR Program

The NEAHR program was established to build on the successes of the Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environment Centres. ACADREs were developed to focus solely on exploring critical Aboriginal health issues and to be the basis of a network of centres across Canada responsible for developing capacity of Aboriginal health researchers and for focused research efforts on determinants of health in Aboriginal communities.

The NEAHR program will benefit Canada’s Aboriginal people by helping to increase the impact of Aboriginal health research, and apply the research findings effectively to improve the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples’ health in Canada. The program will, for example:

• Enhance and develop the research environment between Universities and First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and organizations;
• Support research that focuses on themes such as population health; health services; child health and development; and ethical issues in Aboriginal health research; and
• Train more than 200 graduate students who are working a broad range of health issues, including mental health and addiction, food security, nutrition, diabetes, northern health issues, tobacco control, Aboriginal youth suicide.

Our Work

The AHRNet Secretariat undertakes the following on behalf of the 9 Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research (NEAHR) Centres:

• enhance coordination and communication between NEAHR centres, Aboriginal Health research networks, including students and researchers, National Aboriginal health organizations and International Indigenous health research networks
• provide an administrative focus for coordinating events such as the meetings of the principle investigators and coordinators/directors; the annual gathering of students.
• provide support and coordination for initiatives that are undertaken by some or all of the AHRNetS members, including NEAHR centres, such as the work on knowledge transfer and ethics guidelines.
• accumulate and disseminate information about research and other activities pertaining to Aboriginal health research, this will require the development of a communication strategy, a knowledge transfer strategy and a web site.
• undertake liaison activities with relevant parties, such as CIHR/IAPH, related research programs and organizations, and International Indigenous health networks.
• website maintenance.
• advocacy around Aboriginal health research issues.

The AHRNet Secretariat has two offices.  The head office is located at Six Nations Polytechnic, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario.  The second office is located at the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia.

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