Centre for urban health initiatives (CUHI)

There is a growing need for a core infrastructure to bring disciplines together to address increasingly urgent issues in urban health. A Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI) is proposed in order to build capacity for research into the combined effects of local physical and social environments on the health of urban residents. CUHI will foster innovative, trans-disciplinary, collaborative research, bringing together researchers, policy makers, and community organizations from across Canada. CUHI emphasizes a cradle-to-grave approach to research that encourages longevity and impact by fostering local participation, building research capacity through training and mentoring, and facilitating comprehensive knowledge exchange. CUHI research initiatives will reflect concerns of community and policy-makers, they will be conducted with community participation, and their products will be shared and co-developed with stakeholders. The Centre's governance structure will yield active partnerships that link academic disciplines, policy makers, and communities in initiatives sensitive to the unique environmental and social challenges faced by urban communities.