BC Network for Aging Research

2005 Health of Population Network Award

The BC Network for Aging Research (BCNAR) brings together disciplines, research streams, institutions, community based organizations and health regions with an interest in aging research. The network has four dynamic themes within which it addresses the current needs and challenges of aging research in British Columbia: bridging, knowledge exchange, embracing frontiers and mentoring.

Building on BC’s past and existing achievements, BC’s Network for Aging Research is a unique framework that brings together disciplines, research streams, institutions, community-based organizations and health regions with an interest in aging research. Facilitating communication, training and collaboration, the network provides research facilitation, access to shared resources, and structure to increase capacity and leverage for aging research in BC. The network has four dynamic themes within which it addresses the current needs and challenges of aging research in British Columbia: bridging, knowledge exchange, embracing frontiers and mentoring. Within each of these themes, the network focuses on six research areas: facilitating daily living; prevention; seniors’ mental health; health service utilization; balancing risk; and understanding resilience.

BC’s Network for Aging Research aims to increase overall capacity for aging research and leverage funding in BC by transcending disciplines, research streams, institutions, community-based organizations and health regions. Its goals are to encourage creative idea and knowledge development, design research strategies, facilitate research training, undertake action and disseminate research information to effect change. Specifically, the network aims to:

• build and strengthen links to organizations with mutual interests in improving the quality of life of aging citizens, through research and its applications;
• provide knowledge translation and dissemination among sectors of the network using proven and innovative strategies - strengthen the ties between younger and older BC generations by supporting the transfer of knowledge to all citizens;
• facilitate researchers to explore new frontiers with national and international contacts and guide researchers in identifying the applicable scope and limitations of new discoveries. Encourage BC researchers in raising further questions and in disseminating and diffusing their findings and discoveries provincially, nationally and globally;
• encourage and support experienced researchers to mentor academic and community researchers and students to build provincial capacity in aging research.

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