The changing physical and social landscape in Atlantic rural Canada: A centre targeting implications for health through research enhancement, trans-disciplinary exchange, and informed policy implementation

The purpose of this application is to crystallise current academic and community-based independent initiatives in order to build a mutually-supportive collaborative research network and resource centre based in, but not exclusive to, Atlantic Canada that will: 1) enhance our understanding of the physical and socio-economic environmental influences on health of rural Canadians and the capacity of rural Canadians to respond to these challenges; 2) foster trans-disciplinary research interactions and initiatives; 3) provide a locus for exchange of ideas between researchers, government agencies, concerned citizens and rural Canadians; 4) create enhanced training opportunities for students and rural health professionals; and, 5) include research on innovation uptake and implementation by policy makers and health service providers. We envision a fully established and interconnected research program within six years. The Centre will be linked to participating Atlantic academic institutions through the establishment of regional nodes facilitating shared access to existing and newly developing research capacity and resources. The Centre structure will address priority research themes, methodological development and knowledge translation. A three dimensional conceptual model that integrates the rural physical and social environmental context, with health outcomes at a range of spatial and population levels.