Supporting and promoting health research that has a positive impact on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of aboriginal people at all life stages.
The idea for creating a research institute devoted solely to aboriginal health began in September 1999. A national group of leading aboriginal and non-aboriginal health researchers urged the federal government to consider a specialized research funding agency dedicated to aboriginal health research and capacity building. The group firmly believed this approach would contribute significantly to the overall health and well-being of aboriginal and non-aboriginal populations.
The researchers also envisioned a "cadre" of expert and emerging researchers who would form a Canada-wide network that would strengthen information gathering and sharing, leading to heightened awareness and improved health among aboriginal populations.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) was presented with the recommendations and subsequently launched the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (CIHR-IAPH) in December 2000 with the appointment of its first Scientific Director, Dr. Jeff Reading. CIHR-IAPH offices are based at the University of Toronto.
Governance
IAPH is one of the 13 CIHR institutes that are located in academic institutions as part of a virtual network across Canada that works in collaboration with CIHR-HQ in Ottawa on the broader issues that are common to all institutes and that serve to ensure that the legislated mandates for each of the institutes are followed.
As part of its specific mandate, CIHR-IAPH is responsible for, and has control over its own resource planning and funding priorities, operating policies and for staff hired by the Scientific Director and located in his/her organization. Currently, the Scientific Director is located at the University of Toronto, and the staff of the IAPH work independently from the staff of the CIHR offices in Ottawa on a day-to day basis. A sixteen-member advisory board with unparalleled expertise provides the Scientific Director with strategic planning advice and support.
Staffing
Four highly qualified individuals work full time at CIHR-IAPH offices in Toronto - Scientific Director, Dr. Jeff Reading, MSc, PhD; Assistant Director, Earl Nowgesic, BScN, RN, MHSc; Senior Research Analyst and Projects Manager, Linda Day, B.A., M.A.; and Senior Secretary, Trudy Jacobs. In addition, Laura Commanda, MSW, is our Ottawa-based Research Projects Manager.
In addition to providing support to CIHR, Dr. Reading is an associate professor and Research Chair, Aboriginal Health and Well-being at the University of Toronto, Department of Public Health Sciences. Mr. Nowgesic is an assistant professor, University of Toronto, Department of Public Health Sciences.
We encourage aboriginal communities and organizations that have an interest in health research to investigate the programs that we have to offer. Either look us up on the Internet or contact us at (416) 946-8057.
