Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Canada. While diagnoses of HIV among GBM in Canada have declined in recent years, GBM continue to experience the largest number of new HIV diagnoses among all populations at risk. In contrast to HIV, new diagnoses of bacterial STIs (syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia) have been steadily increasing in Canada over the past decade for both men and women. Our CIHR Engage Study Team represents a national partnership of researchers, public health, and community leaders whose shared goal is to facilitate high-quality, policy-relevant HIV and other STBBI research focusing on GBM. Our findings have been leveraged at the community level to develop intervention programs to aid in the uptake of HIV and STBBI preventative measures, and nationally to inform blood donation policy. We recently completed data collection for a 4-year longitudinal study (Engage 1) and will launch a new study (Engage 2) in Fall 2024. We will host a national in-person one-day event where we share key messages and findings from Engage 1 and plan priority analyses and knowledge mobilization strategies for Engage 2 to improve knowledge, access, and uptake of HIV/STBBI prevention, treatment, and care. Our goals are to strengthen multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary connections among GBM researchers and community partners, and identify key research needs for GBM and HIV and STI prevention projects that can be supported by Engage Study outcomes. We will use this gathering to understand better the diverse needs of GBM across Canada. Our meeting event will take place as an ancillary event to a larger international meeting where we will bring together researchers, partner organizations, and community members with an interest in GBM health.