Focus on men who are living with HIV/AIDS or at risk of HIV/AIDS
TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – in partnership with the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) – today announced support for three research projects aimed at addressing HIV/AIDS health challenges affecting men.
In Canada, men have a shorter average life expectancy than women, tend to access health care services less frequently, and experience higher mortality rates across many leading causes of death. The CIHR Boys and Men's Health Initiative will support projects that examine these issues in general, as well as in the specific context of HIV, with the ultimate goal of finding better treatments and improving the health of men and boys in Canada.
HIV remains an issue of concern in Canada, particularly among vulnerable populations. Creative and innovative approaches for boys and men are needed in the area of prevention, care, and treatment. This partnership between CIHR, OHTN, and CANFAR will strengthen Canada's coordination of research efforts and investments in key populations affected by HIV in Canada.
Quick Facts
- The health researchers supported through this initiative are committed to the pursuit of solutions-focused, collaborative research in boys' and men's health. Three of the research projects involve HIV/AIDS and are receiving $4.5 million in funding. In total, eight research teams across Canada are receiving a total investment of $12 million.
- In 2011, an estimated 76.7% of people living with HIV in Canada were male. Nearly half (46.7%) of those living with HIV were men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Canada is committed to research to address the global challenge of HIV/AIDS. Through the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, the Government of Canada invested $86 million in HIV/AIDS related research in 2013-14.
Quotes
"Partnerships such as those with OHTN and CANFAR are critical to a coordinated response to HIV in Canada. Each one of these projects is tackling important issues for Canadians living with and/or at risk of HIV and are an important addition to the excellent work already underway across the country. Through these collaborative projects, we will improve the health of Canadians and provide more effective health services."
Dr. Marc Ouellette
Scientific Director, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
"The OHTN is very pleased to support these dynamic teams. We believe their research will make a measurable difference in the lives and health of both gay and heterosexual men with or at risk of HIV in Ontario, Canada and globally. It's clear that all these teams understand the complex, inter-related factors that influence men's health and their health decisions, and their work should lead to more effective prevention and treatment interventions."
Dr. Sean B. Rourke
Scientific and Executive Director, Ontario HIV Treatment Network
"CANFAR is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the Government of Canada and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network to co-fund crucial research so that on a future World AIDS Day we can announce that there has been a significant reduction of new HIV infections among gay men and MSM."
Christopher Bunting
President and CEO, Canadian Foundation for HIV/AIDS Research
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Fact Sheet – Boys and Men's Health Initiative Project Summaries
FACT SHEET
HIV / AIDS research projects supported through the CIHR Team Grant
on Boys and Men's Health Initiative
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research launched the Boys' and Men's Health (BMH) Team Grant funding opportunity in November 2013, in partnership with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
In total, eight research projects have received funding under this Initiative. The following three projects relate specifically to the area of HIV/AIDS.
| Title: |
HPV screening and vaccine evaluation in men who have sex with men |
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| Lead: |
Dr. Irving E. Salit, University Health Network (Toronto, Ontario) |
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| Funding: |
Total: $1.5 Million |
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| CIHR: $750,000 |
OHTN: $750,000 |
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| Summary: |
Men tend to underutilize health resources and are often unengaged in many screening and prevention programs. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is of particular high risk for men who have sex with men (MSM). Little is known about screening and treatment of anal HPV, markers for those at risk, and organized screening programs.
This team brings together community and internationally-recognized experts in HPV disease and immunology to improve HPV screening and management in MSM who tested HIV-positive. It also seeks to understand how this common infection enhances HIV transmission. Finally, this project will examine ways to improve care (e.g. anal cancer screening) as well as address issues of prevention (e.g. vaccine use).
It is anticipated that this project will have a direct impact on care and prevention of HPV in Canada. |
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| Title: |
HIV Prevention for Gay and Bisexual Men: A Multisite Study and Development of New HIV Prevention Interventions |
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| Lead: |
Dr. Trevor Hart, Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario) |
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| Funding: |
Total: $1.5 Million |
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| CIHR: $500,000 |
OHTN: $500,000 |
CANFAR: $500,000 |
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| Summary: |
This pan-Canadian research team will investigate inconsistencies between access to HIV prevention and treatment in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. The team will be informed by community stakeholders and also use its resources to train and mentor new researchers in the field.
The study findings will inform the development of three HIV prevention and sexual health promotion programs. These programs will be evaluated through pilot testing using a program science approach.
It is anticipated that this project will reduce HIV and STI transmission and infection among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The team will share its research findings to academic and community audiences so that the knowledge can be turned into action. |
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| Title: |
Reducing HIV vulnerabilities and promoting resilience among self-identified heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black Men in Ontario |
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| Lead: |
Dr. Josephine Wong, Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario) |
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| Funding: |
Total: $1.5 Million |
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| CIHR: $500,000 |
OHTN: $1 Million |
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| Summary: |
Research evidence shows that heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) men experience social inequalities that increase their vulnerabilities to HIV. However, current HIV research, programming and policies in Ontario are not aligned with heterosexual ACB men's needs and interests, and fail to engage them in community responses to HIV.
This research program focuses on HIV risks and vulnerabilities as well as individual and collective resilience of ACB men and communities. The research team will use community empowerment and capacity building approaches to engage and mobilize self-identified heterosexual ACB men, service providers and relevant stakeholders in Toronto, London, Ottawa, and Windsor.
With a goal to generate new knowledge, the results of this project will contribute to the development and implementation of HIV programming, inclusive research, and responsive policy to reduce HIV disparities among heterosexual ACB men and communities in Ontario. Through community engagement strategies, the project will promote sustainable involvement of ACB men and cross-sector partnerships in community HIV responses. Furthermore, the team will help prepare the next generation of HIV researchers in Ontario. |
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Associated Links
About the CIHR
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,200 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
About the OHTN
The Ontario HIV Treatment Network is a network of people living with HIV, community-based agencies, health care providers, government policy makers, educators, and researchers, who are active partners in Ontario's HIV/AIDS strategy. The OHTN supports and conducts high-quality research to help end the HIV epidemic, and shares the best available evidence with all those who can put that knowledge into action. www.ohtn.on.ca
About the CANFAR
The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is Canada's only independent charitable foundation dedicated to eliminating HIV and AIDS through research. By funding promising Canadian AIDS research and spreading awareness through education campaigns, CANFAR is working to end AIDS globally. Since 1987, CANFAR has awarded more than $18 million to HIV and AIDS research projects. Visit www.CANFAR.com for more information.
SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, (613) 957-0200; David Coulombe, Media Relations, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, (613) 941-4563; Media Relations, Ontario HIV Treatment Network
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