Did You Know? OHTN

Do you have information on an upcoming HIV-related special event, resource, survey, funding call, job opportunity, or call for abstracts that you would like to share? Please email the OHTN to have your announcement included in our next Did You Know? newsletter.
February 9, 2011
1. Research and Training Opportunities

Social Aetiology of Mental Illness CIHR Research Fellowships: Applications due March 1 

The Social Aetiology of Mental Illness (SAMI) Training Program announces its call for applications for the 2011 - 2012 research fellowships. The Social Aetiology of Mental Illness Training Program is based at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto, and includes international partners from across the globe. It is the first centre of excellence for the study of the social determinants of mental health and addictions problems and issues. Research fellowships are for one year, fully funded, research-based, and will help top-class research students further develop their skills in investigating the social aetiology of mental illness. The minimum requirement to apply is to hold a Master's degree in a relevant area or an MD with research training/experience. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. EST. For more details and to apply, visit the SAMI website.   

2. Work & Volunteer Opportunities

University of Toronto: Research Assistants Needed, Apply by February 10

OHTN

The Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto is seeking Master's level students for two part-time Researcj Assistants: (1) To coordinate activities for the Imagine Men's Health Study which aims to examine the association between experiences of racism, homophobia and internalized ethnocultural attitudes and beliefs associated with body image satisfaction and eating attitudes and behaviors among ethnoracialized gay and bisexual men. See the job posting for more details. (2) To conduct a systematic review of methods used to measure male sexual orientation in quantitative health research. See the job posting for more information. The deadline to apply to these positions is February 10, 2011.

HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic - Ontario: Fundraising and Volunteer Management Assistant position, Apply by February 18

OHTN

The HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario) ("HALCO") is a registered charity and poverty law clinic serving the legal needs of low-income people living with HIV/AIDS across Ontario. HALCO provides legal advice and representation, and engages in public legal education, law reform and community development activities. The clinic is currently seeking a part Fundraising & Volunteer Management Assistant to provide organizational support for fundraising events, campaigns and activities, maintain membership, donor and volunteer records, assist with the management of volunteer orientation and recognition programs, catalogue legal resources, prepare tax receipts, and assist with related administrative tasks. The deadline to apply is February 18, 2011. For details, see the job posting. 

Ontario HIV Treatment Network: Analyst - Evidence-based Practice Unit, Apply by February 21

OHTN

The OHTN is seeking a highly qualified applicant for the position of Analyst in the Evidence-Based Practice Unit (EBPU). The EBPU Analyst will be responsible for ongoing analysis and reporting on data collected through a case management system and program data collected from AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario. The deadline to apply for this position is February 21, 2011. For more details, see the job posting.

Wilfrid Laurier University Tenure Position in Health Sciences: Applications due March 31

Wilfrid Laurier University'sFaculty of Science invites applications for a tenure-track appointment within the area of Health Sciences at the Assistant Professor level. The position will complement existing expertise in a newly developed and highly multi-disciplinary undergraduate program. Applicants should have a PhD in community health, public health, epidemiology or a related discipline, have evidence of commitment to and superior ability in teaching, an active program of research with strong potential for external funding, and a commitment to graduate student training. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2011, or until the position is filled. For more information, see the job posting.

Ontario Cohort Study Governance Committee: Call for Member Applications

OHTN

The OHTN Cohort Study (OCS) is a cornerstone of the OHTN and is the first community-governed, prospective research study of people living with HIV. Over the last 5 years, the OCS has built capacity for recruitment (5000 participants) and research in 10 sites across Ontario, developed a rich new dataset including comprehensive social determinants of health and clinical information, strengthened data collection, extraction and analytical processes, and engaged more than 40 Ontario scientists to develop relevant research proposals. The OHTN Cohort Study has contributed to both national (CANOC) and international (NA-ACCORD) cohort research collaborations. The OCS Governance Committee is seeking community members, clinicians and researchers from across Ontario to support the review and approval of all OCS research proposals and data releases. For more information and to apply, see the call for applications.

3. Knowledge Exchange Opportunities

Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network Wise Practices Event: Book your Hotel by February 14

The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network would like to invite you to attend their bi-annual Wise Practices III event taking place on March 9 to 11, 2011, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The theme for this year's event is "Creativity + Research = Positive Action!" To book your hotel room at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel at the special CAAN room rate, book online now or contact Patrick Brownlee. The deadline for booking at the special hotel rate is February 14, 2011. For more details on this event, stay updated through the CAAN website  

 

St. Michael's Hospital HIV Rounds: Lunch & Learns on February 15 and 22

St. Michael's Hospital rounds are designed to raise awareness, share knowledge, and educate the public through advocacy discussions as well as HIV-related treatments and social research and clinical research. These weekly discussions cover a wide variety of topics for physicians, nurses and dieticians, researchers, public health officials, policy makers, community members, people with HIV, and anyone in the health profession or with an interest in HIV. The next Rounds will be held: February 15, 2011, and will focus on "New Antiretroviral Treatments and HIV Undetectability: Do they Undermine the Doctor-Patient Relationship?"; and February 22, 2011, and will provide "An Update on HIV Therapeutic Drug Monitoring". For more details on upcoming Rounds, see the OHTN website.

CAHR 2011 Dialogue Meeting on Developing a Coordinated National HIV/AIDS Research Agenda for Women, Transwomen and Girls: Scholarship Applications due February 28

In conjunction with the 20th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2011) in Toronto, a multi-stakeholder dialogue ancillary event will be held on April 13 and 14, 2011, "Towards the Development of a Coordinated National Research Agenda for Women, Transwomen, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Canada". The event will bring together diverse stakeholders including people who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, researchers, policy makers, health care providers, representatives of AIDS service organizations and community groups, research funders and others to engage in dialogue and identify strategic national directions for HIV/AIDS research by, for and about women, transwomen, and girls. To ensure the participation of all stakeholders, a limited number of full travel scholarships are available. The deadline to submit scholarship applications is 8 PM EST on February 28, 2011. For details and to apply, please refer to the Scholarship Application Form in English and French. Please note that this free event is open to everyone including, but not limited to, CAHR Conference attendees, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information on registration, email the Canadian AIDS Society

University of Toronto Office of Research Ethics: Health Sciences Workshop on March 1

The University of Toronto's Office of Research Ethics is pleased to host a workshop on March 1, 2011, to address all types of research involving human participants in the health sciences. Faculty members, graduate students, staff and all others interested in research are invited to attend. Workshops will include a presentation with opportunities for questions and discussion. Topics will include: History and principles behind research ethics review; procedures under Tri-council policy statement: Ethical conduct for research involving humans; Risk matrix for assessing participant vulnerability and research risk; free and informed consent, privacy & confidentiality, conflict of interest, inclusion/exclusion criteria; and questions and discussion relating to specific projects and methods. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, see the event poster.

Toronto HIV/AIDS Network: Opening Doors Toronto Forum, Register before March 2

Toronto HIV/AIDS Network is pleased to invite registration to Opening Doors Toronto, a two-day forum on March 8, 2011, on Overcoming Stigmas by Exploring our Strengths and Resiliencies for support service providers and people living with, and affected by HIV/AIDS. Opening Doors forum is designed to strengthen HIV/AIDS counseling and support services by bringing together a diverse range of HIV related support workers and people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to support and learn from one another. This forum will help to identify multiple Stigmas and recognize their impact on individuals and agencies; celebrating the resiliencies, strengths and wisdom from Toronto's diverse communities; and provide a reflection framework and identify community building actions and strategies. Registration is open until March 2, 2011. For more details and to register, see the event flyer and registration form.

Hong Fook Mental Health Association: Diversity and Equity in Mental Health and Addiction Conference on May 27

Hong Fook Mental Health Association is pleased to announce the Diversity and Equity in Mental Health & Addiction: Fortifying Communities, Families and Individualsconference will be held on May 27, 2011. The Conference isjointly organized by Across Boundaries, Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Branch, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Hong Fook Mental Health Foundation, Loft Community Services, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Public Health and University Health Network. Open to policy makers, frontline workers and the community at large, this conference will identify strategies and practices that strengthen diverse communities and meet their needs; describe the changing roles of families within diverse communities and formulate ways of engaging them; describe the impact of dislocation and trauma on refugees and immigrants; and describe ways of engaging spiritual and other traditional community-based supports to foster resilience and wellness. For more details, see the conference poster .

4. Advocacy & Outreach

YouthLink Inner City Services for Street Involved and Homeless Youth: Announcement

YouthLink has recently completed a yearlong strategic planning process assessing the agency and its future direction, and has determined that it will focus its efforts in Scarborough to expand services for at risk youth in the region. They regret that this direction means that YouthLink will transition over the next few months out of service provision for street-involved and homeless youth in the downtown core. The YouthLink Vanauley location will remain fully operational at this time until further developments are announced. For more information, please see the announcement.

AIDS Committee of Toronto: SNAP! Photography Competition, Submit by February 11

The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) is proud to present the 10th Birthday of its signature photographic auction, SNAP! that supports ACT's community initiatives by funding crucial programmes and services for those living with, affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS in Toronto. In 2010, ACT received over 400 submissions, and they hope that, with your help, they can surpass that number both in quantity and scope. All photographers - from enthusiast to professional - are invited to submit original photography work or photo-based art for review, critique and potential selection for Silent Auction by the ACT jury. Submit by February 11, 2011, to support ACT and be eligible to win great prizes! For more details, see the event website.

5. Resources

New OHTN Rapid Review on Radio-Based Interventions for HIV Prevention

OHTN

Can radio be used to help curb the spread of HIV?  A community-based agency asked the OHTN to see what the research data says about using radio in HIV prevention campaigns. Read the Rapid Review on Radio-based Interventions for HIV Prevention to see what we found out. The OHTN Rapid Response Service offers HIV/AIDS programs and services in Ontario quick access to research evidence to help inform decision making, service delivery and advocacy.  In response to a question from the field, the Rapid Response Team reviews the scientific and grey literature, consults with experts, and prepares a brief fact sheet summarizing the current evidence and its implications for policy and practice.  For more information and to access other factsheets visit the OHTN website