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Mission | Objectives | Initiatives

Formed in 2004 and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Atlantic RURAL Centre promotes research development, collaboration, and knowledge translation between researchers, government agencies, concerned citizens and rural Atlantic Canadians.

Through research and other initiatives, the Atlantic RURAL Centre seeks to make a positive impact on the lives of rural Atlantic Canadians.

Our Mission:

To enhance our understanding of physical and socioeconomic environmental influences on health and the capacity of rural Atlantic Canadians to respond to these challenges.
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Objectives:

The RURAL Centre is a mutually-supportive collaborative research network and resource centre that aims to:

1. To provide a locus for exchange of ideas between researchers, government agencies, concerned citizens, and rural Atlantic Canadians.
2. To foster trans-disciplinary research interactions and initiatives in Atlantic Canada
3. To create enhanced training opportunities for students and rural health professionals in Atlantic Canada.
4. To include research on innovation uptake and implementation by policy makers and health service providers in Atlantic Canada

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Infrastructure and Technology Development

The development of Atlantic health research infrastructure is an important component of The RURAL Centre’s mandate. Infrastructure relating to fields of study such as survey research, geospatial analysis, socio-demographic and socio-economic mapping, new technologies for environmental monitoring, and exposure assessment will all be enhanced and shared between Atlantic institutions.

Databases

The development, maintenance, and application of health databases are key aspects of The RURAL Centre’s research mission. The Centre will build on existing Atlantic databases and support systems, and work towards making unique research data sets available to a broad spectrum of investigators. These data will in turn be used to advance our collective understanding of rural health issues relating to The Centre’s research themes.

Student Fellowships

A limited number of fellowships will be awarded each year to graduate students for research to be performed with one or more RURAL Centre investigators. Graduate work supported by these fellowships will be related to The RURAL Centre’s research themes and carried out at one or more of The Centre’s collaborating institutions. Some additional support for undergraduate research may also be provided through allocations to individual institutions. More information

Knowledge Translation and Exchange

In addition to the print publication of its research results, The RURAL Centre will develop and support forums for knowledge translation and dissemination. These will include an Atlantic Rural Health Summit (to be held at regular intervals over a period of years), the Institute for Population and Public Health Summer School in 2005, and the creation of a Centre website that will make information available to the public.

Partnership Development

An active partner is the Atlantic Environmental Sciences Network coordinated by Environment Canada, Atlantic Region. We will be looking to enhance this important linkage and other key relationships with health authorities in Atlantic Canada.
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