Community-based Initiatives

The OHTN actively supports and encourages quality HIV-related community-based research in Ontario by:

  • Building strong networks among community members, researchers, policymakers and service providers
  • Enhancing the research capacity of community-based organizations
  • Partnering with the University of Toronto to support the HIV Research Board

HIV Research Ethics Board

The OHTN, in partnership with the University of Toronto, supports an HIV Research Ethics Board responsible for the review of HIV/AIDS-related research, including community-based research.

Research Ethics Boards are arm’s-length committees with the recognized authority to review and approve research involving humans to identify any ethical issues related to the research which may affect the rights and welfare of the people who participate.

Unique characteristics of the HIV Research Ethics Board include:

  • Lead investigators do not have to be an academic researcher in order to qualify for the review process
  • The Board is proficient in reviewing community-based research
  • The board is chaired by Academic and Community Co-Chairs
  • The board is comprised of at least 50% community members

HIV Research Ethics Board Workshop

The OHTN held a Community-Based Research and Ethics Capacity Building Workshop in collaboration with the University of Toronto. For more information, view the workshop website.

HIV Research Ethics Board Members

The Board is led by an academic and a community co-chair.

Rupert Kaul (Academic Co-Chair)
Darien Taylor (Community Co-Chair)
Dario Kuzmanovic (ex-officio)
Lisungu Chieza
Anne Currie
Adrian Guta
Renee Lang
Anthony Linton
Raj Maharaj
Devan Nambiar
Valerie Sales
Carol Strike
Alice Tseng

For More Information

Visit the HIV Research Ethics Board website.

Download the University of Toronto application forms

Peer Research Training Institute

The Peer Research Training Institute (PRTI) is a research training and placement program for people living with HIV in Ontario. It is being established as a partnership between community groups under the stewardship of the OHTN to ensure continuity and viability. The plans for the PRTI are guided by a Community Advisory Committee made up of people living with HIV, researchers, academics and members of community-based organizations. The Scientific and Executive Director of the OHTN, Dr. Sean B. Rourke, has appointed Randy Jackson from McMaster University and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, and Saara Greene from McMaster University as Co-Chairs of the PRTI.

For more information, please contact Hope Ramsay or call 416-642-6486 ext 2239

 


We invested $850,000 in 32 Community-Based Research projects between 2005 and 2008.