Are you interested in making a difference in the world of HIV and STBBI research? Now accepting applications for the CTN+ Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
What is CAC?
The CAC is a broadly representative group of people from across Canada who are living with HIV and/or Sexually Transmitted Blood Bourne Illnesses (STBBIs) and/or representing organizations fighting the epidemic. This committee reviews studies submitted to the Network and makes recommendations to the Steering Committee (SC). It also advises the Scientific Review Committee and CTN+ Investigators and informs the SC about the research priorities and concerns of Canadians living with HIV and/or STBBIs. CAC members may also participate in Knowledge Mobilization activities, such as advising on study recruitment methods, public-facing materials, and
When did CAC start?
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was created in 1992 to provide formal community input to the Network regarding clinical research. Members review clinical trial proposals and informed consents and make recommendations to the Network’s Scientific Steering Committee. CAC meets up to four times yearly by teleconference. The Network pays small honoraria for reviews and when necessary, travel expenses for meetings. (For more information on honoraria please see the Community Compensation Guidelines. Hyper link)
What does CAC do?
CAC members do much more than review informed consent forms (ICFs); they act as informal knowledge brokers, connecting individuals and communities of people living with and affected by HIV with Canadian HIV researchers. CAC members suggest research ideas of interest to the community, provide input on concepts at CTN+ meetings, liaise between community and researchers, provide ideas on recruitment for specific studies, and participate in knowledge translation activities such as co-authoring journal articles and conducting workshops on clinical trials. Individual CAC members may choose to join research teams which are of particular interest to them, on their own time.
What are the benefits of joining CAC?
You can change the face of research in Canada and help contribute to a greater understanding of HIV and other STBBI’s both within healthcare, and the general public. Within CAC, there is also a teaching component as we aim to build the capacity of CAC members to understand clinical research, and to review protocols and informed consent forms. In turn, CAC members teach researchers and postdoctoral fellows about the importance of community in research and of the ideas and values that community brings to research.
Some examples of teaching and learning opportunities include:
· During the yearly face-to-face meeting, postdoctoral fellows attend the CAC meeting to learn about how community reviews studies
· At SRC meetings, CAC provides input into the review process
· During Regional break-out sessions, CAC members provide input on local and national community priorities
· Opportunities to present at clinical trial workshops at other community events
Some examples of formal learning opportunities available to CAC members include:
· Access to the CTN+ Community Science Champion Program
· Orientation session for new CAC members prior to CTN annual meetings
· Regular presentations by experts on emerging areas of research
· Participation at workshops and training in knowledge mobilization
· Good Clinical Practice guidelines and other online modules are available to all CAC members
In addition to the above structured sessions, there are opportunities for CAC members to connect
