Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Human Health Initiative  (AHHI)

Outline
The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) will advance the joint research agenda of the Arctic Council, an eight-nation intergovernmental forum for sustainable development and environmental protection, in the areas of infectious disease, the effects of anthropogenic pollution, UV radiation, and climate variability on human health, and telehealth innovations. Specifically, the leaders of these research programs will build on their years of circumpolar collaboration to extend the International Circumpolar Surveillance network of hospitals and public health facilities into Russia and include additional infectious diseases of concern, to continue monitoring contaminants in human blood tissues to reveal temporal and spatial trends and to combine experiences from the rapidly expanding disciplines of biomarker research and molecular epidemiology with these monitoring progams, and to extend circumpolar cooperation on telehealth, particularly to Arctic regions in the Russian Federation. In addition, the AHHI will draw on the outstanding leadership of the Arctic Council member states' national and international research programs in the areas of human genomics, biomarkers, hypothermia, hibernation, menatl health, and climate sensitive infectious diseases. The AHHI steering group, led by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will work with the International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH), the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and other partners to develop a program of outreach and public education focused on the promotion of good health for Arctic residents and better integration of the findings of Arctic health research. The IUCH will make its trennial Congress in 2006 available to facilitate IPY health activities and its Congress in 2009 to underscore the health legacy of IPY.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
We expect the AHHI to improve the health of Arctic people by identifying and extending measures to prevent death, disease and disability by improving access to health care services. We anticipate a significant increase in the exchange of research findings within the research community and improved exchange of information between the research community and Arctic residents, including indigenous peoples.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We expect collaboration amoung health professionals from Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian, Sweden and the United States. We also anticipate cooperating with interested representatives of international organizations such as WHO, UNICER and the IRC.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No field expedition plans

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Not Applicable

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The AHHI will leave a stronger circumpolar network of public health research specialists and facilitites, including the International Journal of Circumpolar Health (IJCH), an internet accessible library of health information.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Arctic Council Ministers meeting November 24, 2004 in Reykavik, Iceland directed Arctic Council stakeholders to develop proposals to the IPY Joint Committee. National Committees will also review and endorse this proposal.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
no

The AHHI will begin as an expansion of existing and planned projects of the Arctic Council, but will develop new activities by 2007-2008.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The AHHI will be organized under the auspices of the Arctic Council (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States) with the participation of Arctic indigenous peoples. An international Steering Group will be established to coordinate AHHI activities, report to the Council, and link these AHHI activities to IPY and the global health community.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The AHHI will hold a scoping workshop in April, 2005 that will develop an education, outreach and communication strategy building on the resources already offered by the International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) and described above. The 2005 scoping workshop will include representatives of Arctic indigenous peoples and Universities to assure that the AHHI addresses their special circumstances and contributions.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Human health data management, including privacy, uniformity and quality, will be key elements of the AHHI as they are for ICS, the Survey of Living Conditions in the Arctic, and the council's work on anthrpogenic pollution.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Current funding is provided by agencies of the member states of the Arctic Council. The AHHI Steering Group will approach these same agencies and others for expanded funding for IPY.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The proposer details that follow are preliminary and do not include all those who are expected to be active in the AHHI Steering Group. A more complete listing will be included in the full proposal submitted in June 2005. AHHI expects to have expert representatives from all eight Arctic Council member states, from Arctic indigenous organizations and other international human health interests.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Alan Parkinson
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Arctic Investigations Program, 4055 Tudor Centre Drive
Anchorage, Alaska
99508
USA

Tel: 907-729-3640
Mobile: no
Fax: 907-729-3652
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation