Created by CBRC in 2011, the Investigaytors program is a community-based, capacity-building initiative for 2S/LGBTQIA+ people interested in health research. Participants build research skills and gain hands-on experience across the research process, from project development and data collection to analysis and knowledge translation, while exploring key health issues and inequities affecting our communities.
Program participants learn about quantitative and qualitative research skills, social determinants of health, HIV prevention and sexual health, COVID-19 and mental health, and the utility of research in addressing health inequities and knowledge gaps. Importantly, there is no academic or educational requirement for participating in the program, and participation is not limited to those currently or formerly engaged in post-secondary education.
Practical research experience is built through intimate involvement at all levels of a research project, including developing project proposals, defining research objectives, data collection and recruitment, data analysis, and knowledge translation. In the past, Investigaytors have contributed to the design, data collection, and analysis of the Sex Now and Our Bodies, Our Health surveys. Over the years, the Investigaytors have authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and community reports and have presented their research at national and international conferences.
First established in Vancouver in 2011 the Investigaytors program has since expanded to Toronto through apartnership between the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and the CRUISElab at the University of Toronto. The program continues to evolve and grow as more partners join. In recent years, partners have included:
- CRUISElab (2016) University of Toronto
- Queer & Trans Health Collective (QTHC) (2018) Edmonton
- Village Lab (2019) University of Manitoba
- QOLLAB (2020) University of Montreal
- Sexual Health and Gender (SHaG) Research Lab (2022) Dalhousie University
- Health Initiative for Men (HIM) (2022) Vancouver
Knowledge 2eekerS
In 2023, Knowledge 2eekerS, a learning and capacity building program, was created by Indigenous people for Indigenous people to respond to the unique dynamics and needs of Indigenous people working in community-based research.
To learn more about the Investigaytors program, find a delivery partner near you, and access additional resources, please visit www.investigaytors.ca or contact Marie Geoffroy ([email protected]).
For more information on Knowledge 2eekerS, contact Lane Bonertz ([email protected]).
CBRC
Apr 25, 2024
