The CIHR CBR Collaborative: A Program of REACH

The CIHR CBR Collaborative: A Program of REACH (CBR Collaborative 2.0) will be a vibrant, sustainable, national collaborative of people living with HIV, researchers, community-based organizations, clinicians, and policy makers. By providing financial and infrastructure support for Regional Core Teams that guide and drive work across the country, the CBR Collaborative 2.0 will foster rigorous, relevant community-based research (CBR) that will improve the health and wellbeing of people living with and affected by HIV in Canada. Building from our foundation of success as a national collaborative research network we will mobilize and grow our successful CBR network to address the needs of those living with and affected by HIV across provinces and territories. Through the Centre and our partnerships, we will: a) Coordinate CBR efforts within and across regions; b) Target CBR efforts and build CBR capacity where it is needed most; c) Build partnerships and provide infrastructure for funding and program success; and d) Promote KTE and learning for impact. The CBR Collaborative 2.0 is committed to both the greater and more meaningful involvement of people with or at risk of HIV (GIPA/MIPA), and will prioritize identifying potential roles for, and increasing inclusion and capacity of, people with lived experience in all we do. CBR is a highly collaborative approach to research that respects and values the contributions and expertise of all team members across sectors and from diverse communities. In CBR, the research process itself is a form of social action that enhances knowledge and skills for all partners, builds community, impacts health, and reduces stigma associated with HIV. Our approach will inform policy, change practice, and improve conditions in the community.