CAHR Poster Abstract-2016 FINAL

ACCHO

CACVO

African and CaribbeanCouncil on HIV/AIDS

in Ontario

Conseil des Africainset Caraïbéens sur leVIH/sida en OntarioTola Mbulaheni1, Henry Luyombya2, Hugues Loemba3, LaRon E. Nelson4, Mbaka Wadham5, Rupert Kaul6, Shamara Baidoobonso7, Sonia Gaudry7, Valérie Pierre-Pierre1, Wangari Tharao8, Winston Husbands2

Implementing an Impact-Focused HIV/AIDS Research Strategy for African, Caribbean and

Black Communities in Ontario

EN AVANT :

1 African and Caribbean Council on HIV AIDS in Ontario, Toronto, ON,2 AIDS Committee of Toronto, Toronto, ON, 3 University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON,

4 University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA, 5 Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, London, ON, 6 University of Toronto, Toronto, ON,

7 Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, ON, 8 Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, Toronto, ON

1 Ontario Community HIV and AIDS Reporting Tool (OCHART). The View from the Front Lines, (2014): Annual summary & analysis of data provided by community-based HIV/AIDS services in Ontario. Toronto, ON: AIDS and Hepatitis C Programs, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ontario Region; (2014).

Although disproportionately impacted by HIV, there is a dearth of research to understand the issues underlying this trend and inform responses in ACB communities.

3.9%African, Caribbean and

Black (ACB) people represent

15%

of Ontario’s population, but comprise approximately

of new infections in the province1.

ACCHO and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) partnered to form a planning committee tasked with designing a process for the generation of research concepts that aligned with priorities identified in the proposed Ontario HIV/AIDS Strategy to 2026, the Ontario HIV/AIDS Strategy for ACB Communities 2013-2018, and the RTT3. The original top six priorities were collapsed into three priority areas:

This led to En Avant, an impact-focused, action-oriented initiative designed to engage community, clinical and research leaders to collaboratively identify HIV research concepts and design action plans to develop these concepts into full proposals for submission to grant competitions.

In 2012, the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO)Ontario ACB Research Think Tank (RTT3), providing an opportunity for a variety of stakeholders to identify research needs, interests, gaps and priorities.

BACKGROUND

METHODS

RESULTS

A follow-up plan was created to support leaders to maintain momentum in developing their concepts into HIV research grant proposals.

8

Identified next steps include transitioning leadership of En Avant to the ACCHO Research Committee to ensure sustainable community ownership. A proceedings report from the action-planning meeting was developed and can be accessed on the ACCHO website.

The culmination of the planning process described above was the En Avant action-planning meeting. The objective of this one-day meeting was to engage a diverse group of stakeholders from across the province in developing action steps that will accelerate ACB HIV research productivity in Ontario. The day comprised overview presentations, providing insights into the current state of things within each of the three priority areas. The presentations informed the small group discussions that followed where participants collaboratively developed research concepts aligning with the priority areas. The meeting resulted in the identification of

CONCLUSION

research concepts.

$AIDS Bureau

Ministry of Health and Long-Term

Care

Ontario HIV Treatment Network

Special thanks to the ACCHO Research Committee, planning committee members, presenters and participants.

Funding for the En Avant initiative was provided by the AIDS Bureau, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

En Avant is a long-term, strategic and coordinated effort to bring together community and research leaders to champion the translation of ACB HIV/AIDS priorities into research action. It is intended to enhance the ACB HIV/AIDS research agenda and ultimately, strengthen evidence-based responses to HIV/AIDS in Ontario’s ACB communities.

1 2 3

ACB HIV/AIDS priorities

Research action

Research and community leaders with expertise in each of the priority areas were identified and engaged to champion the development of the research proposals and resulting activities.

a Liaising with the leaders for progress updates on funding proposals and supporting identified needs and challenges.

c Delivering a webinar and preparing a resource on conducting research with ACB communities in ways that are ethical and culturally appropriate. Identified next steps include transitioning leadership of En Avant to the ACCHO Research Committee to ensure sustainable community ownership.

b Identifying potential mentors

within each of the research priority areas and connecting them with new researchers as needed.

Research and evidence-based practices

in HIV prevention, treatment and care

Clinical and immunological

issues across the

lifespan and

Methodological innovations in HIV

research

SUPPORT STRATEGIES INCLUDE:

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