The OHTN Cohort Study
The OHTN Cohort Study (OCS) is a community-governed, scientifically rigorous research initiative, designed to improve the health and well-being of people living with HIV in Ontario by promoting and supporting scientific, community-based and policy-relevant research. The OCS is a multi-site research study that collects clinical and sociobehavioural data on a cohort of participants living with HIV over time. The mission of the OCS is to develop, support and sustain a unique research database and cohort, governed by people living with HIV in Ontario and used in partnership by scientists, community-based researchers and other stakeholders.
Principal Scientific Aims of the OCS
The purpose of the OCS is to collect information on the clinical and health profiles of people living with HIV in care in Ontario to provide a robust information resource for clinical, socio-behavioural, population health, and health services research. Our aims are:
- To understand the pychosocial and health context of people living with HIV
- To understand patterns of health services use
- To understand issues related to mental health and addictions
- To examine HIV infection and its complications
- To examine HIV treatment and its complications, including adverse events and HIV drug resistance
- To examine co-morbid diseases and conditions among people living with HIV
- To examine social, psychological, and other factors related to behaviour that poses risk for secondary HIV transmission
OCS Core Commitments
- Community ownership and governance
- Informed and voluntary consent
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Greater Involvement of People living with or affected by HIV/AIDS
- Accountability
- Sustainability
OCS Goals
To maintain a rich and comprehensive dataset by:
- Ensuring participants reflect the Ontario HIV epidemic with oversampling of vulnerable populations where appropriate
- Supporting ongoing collection of appropriate and evolving health data (both questionnaire and medical information) to ensure capacity to examine new and emerging health issues
- Establishing and supporting linkages with other data sources including multi-cohort collaborations
To promote collaboration and synergy in developing research questions by:
- Ensuring rigorous and relevant scientific explorations that may lead to influencing new or changes in policy, care and treatment for people living with HIV especially populations most vulnerable
- Encouraging multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder and community collaborations
- Providing support for scientific and community partnerships in the development of OCS research
- Inviting external community (especially vulnerable communities), clinical researchers and students to participate in OCS research
To share knowledge gained through OCS research by:
- Promoting scientific publications to influence practice and policy
- Using OHTN knowledge and communication tools and networks to disseminate findings
- Ensuring that health research information is accessible and available to all stakeholders, including public and health policy makers, people living with HIV especially populations that are most vulnerable, and healthcare providers
News & Events
Announcing the UWW-OCS Post-Graduate Fellowship
April 4, 2013
Are you looking for an interdisciplinary research experience? Are you ready to work with data from Ontario's longest-running community-governed cohort study? Do you see yourself as part of the future of HIV research in Canada? If you or someone you know answers "Yes!" to all of these questions, read more, as this may be the opportunity for you.
New OCS Publications
March 27, 2013
Our publications page has been updated with two new OCS Publications from 2013: one highlighting the socio-demographic profile of older OCS participants, and one looking at the representativeness of the cohort.
Our very own, Ann Burchell, featured in Xtra magazine
March 14, 2013
The Co-PI of the OCS has been featured in Xtra magazine. Read up on the resurgence of syphilis among gay and other men who have sex with men, and Dr. Burchell's take on what's happening and ideas to intervene.
Abstracts at CAHR 2013
February 8, 2013
This year, OCS researchers have submitted more abstracts to the annual CAHR Conference than ever before! Researchers are patiently awaiting their acceptance letters and the forthcoming conference schedule. Stay tuned as we see what OCS data will be coming to the Canadian HIV Research community this April!
Featured on PositiveLite!
January 28, 2013
This week, PositiveLite has featured a summary of the research conducted using OCS participants and data on criminalization and HIV. Follow the links for the PositiveLite article, the OCS Fact Sheet, and the full publication.
2012 OCS Newsletter Released!
January 20, 2013
The OCS is pleased to announce the release of the 2nd Annual OCS Newletter, The Current. Read online, or contact the OCS for a copy
