Reconfiguring physical and social environments to improve health: Research infrastructure development in Atlantic Canada

This proposal has two primary objectives: 1) research infrastructure development in Atlantic Canada to advance population health science and public health systems in the area of illness and injury prevention; and 2) development of a ground-breaking program of research, knowledge translation, and training in environmental diagnostics in three environments: workplaces, communities, and schools. Research infrastructure development will occur via the formation of an Atlantic Health Network for Prevention Research (AHNPR). The Network will capitalize on and enhance the collective resources of universities, governments, community organizations, and the private sector. The research program focuses on environmental diagnostics, tools and processes to clarify the health impacts of environments (in this case, schools, communities and workplaces) and to identify the required health promoting public health services. Key questions include: What do we know about the factors in social and physical environments (i.e., workplace, school, community) that contribute to health status of Atlantic Canadians? What environmental assessment tools must be designed and/or activated? Who should be receiving and acting on these data? Whose responsibility is it within these settings, as important components of the prevention system, to assess and provide leadership in acting on health issues?