title: The Arctic Human Health Initiative: a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions. The Arctic Human Health Initiative (AHHI) was a US-led Arctic Council IPY coordinating project that aimed to build and expand on existing International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH) and Arctic Council human health interests. The project aimed to link researchers with potential international collaborators and to serve as a focal point for human health research, education, outreach and communication activities during the IPY. The progress of projects conducted as part of this initiative up until the end of the Arctic Council Swedish chairmanship in May 2013 is summarized in this report.
  
  
  METHODS
  The overall goals of the AHHI was to increase awareness and visibility of human health concerns of Arctic peoples, foster human health research, and promote health strategies that will improve health and well-being of all Arctic residents. Proposed activities to be recognized through the initiative included: expanding research networks that will enhance surveillance and monitoring of health issues of concern to Arctic peoples, and increase collaboration and coordination of human health research; fostering research that will examine the health impact of anthropogenic pollution, rapid modernization and economic development, climate variability, infectious and chronic diseases, intentional and unintentional injuries, promoting education, outreach and communication that will focus public and political attention on Arctic health issues, using a variety of publications, printed and electronic reports from scientific conferences, symposia and workshops targeting researchers, students, communities and policy makers; promoting the translation of research into health policy and community action including implementation of prevention strategies and health promotion; and promoting synergy and strategic direction of Arctic human health research and health promotion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As of 31 March, 2009, the official end of the IPY, AHHI represented a total of 38 proposals, including 21 individual Expressions of Intent (EoI), and 9 full proposals (FP), submitted to the IPY Joint Committee for review and approval from lead investigators from the US, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Russian Federation. In addition, there were 10 National Initiatives (NI-projects undertaken during IPY beyond the IPY Joint Committee review process). Individual project details can be viewed at www.arctichealth.org. The AHHI currently monitors the progress of 28 individual active human health projects in the following thematic areas: health network expansion (5 projects), infectious disease research (7 projects), environmental health research (7 projects), behavioral and mental health research (4 projects), and outreach education and communication (5 projects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While some projects have been completed, others will continue well beyond the IPY. The IPY 2007-2008 represented a unique opportunity to further stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic health research and increase the awareness and visibility of Arctic regions.
authors: Arctic Investigations Program, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. ajp1@cdc.gov
authors: Alan J
authors: AJ
authors: Parkinson
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D001364:Awareness; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D014943:Global Health; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012106:Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Arctic Council; Arctic Health; International Polar Year; education outreach communication; research
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 May 08;71(0):1-7
references: 22584510
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Sep;68(4):347-53
references: 19917187
references: Scand J Public Health. 2010 Feb;38(1):64-70
references: 19880663
references: J Viral Hepat. 2010 Mar;17(3):162-70
references: 19780937
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Feb;31(2):139-44
references: 22001967
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Jul 26;71:18383
references: 22868191
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Aug;47(8):2626-8
references: 19494076
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Jun;68(3):274-91
references: 19705659
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):48-55
references: 18258076
references: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2011 Jul;75(7):948-54
references: 21592588
references: CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E553-8
references: 21555386
references: Environ Int. 2013 Sep;59:33-40
references: 23770579
references: Can J Public Health. 2012 Jun 05;103(4):e282-7
references: 23618642
references: J Nutr. 2013 Jun;143(6):923-30
references: 23616502
references: Am J Hum Biol. 2013 Jan-Feb;25(1):20-8
references: 23073911
references: Sci Total Environ. 2005 Dec 1;351-352:165-246
references: 16297438
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012;71:
references: 23166895
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):4-9
references: 18258070
references: J Med Virol. 2012 Sep;84(9):1369-75
references: 22825815
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012 Sep;38(5):468-75
references: 22931081
references: Arch Osteoporos. 2011;6:167-77
references: 22886103
references: Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1534
references: 20568905
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Mar 19;71:17229
references: 22456042
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 May 04;71(0):1-7
references: 22584513
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Jun;69(3):304-13
references: 20501060
references: Alaska Med. 2007;49(2 Suppl):1-275
references: 18018335
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Feb;68(1):84-91
references: 19331244
references: Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1363
references: 20568910
references: J Nutr. 2010 Oct;140(10):1839-45
references: 20702752
references: J Viral Hepat. 2013 Feb;20(2):122-30
references: 23301547
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):1-3
references: 18258069
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jan;49(1):138-43
references: 21048017
references: Nutr J. 2012 Sep 18;11:73
references: 22989025
references: Psychol Assess. 2012 Jun;24(2):313-27
references: 21928912
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Jul 02;71:18957
references: 22765935
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 May 23;71:18639
references: 22663939
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):25-33
references: 18258073
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Dec;69(sup5):1-68
references: 28253820
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Apr 16;71:1-8
references: 22564463
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Apr;69(2):181-94
references: 20356465
references: Parasitology. 2011 Sep;138(11):1362-8
references: 21813043
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):56-9
references: 18258077
references: Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1329
references: 20568907
references: Eur Respir J. 2010 Oct;36(4):878-84
references: 20516050
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2013 Aug 05;72:
references: 23986895
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Jun;69(3):217
references: 20579454
references: Environ Health. 2011 Oct 06;10:88
references: 21978366
references: Trends Parasitol. 2011 Jun;27(6):239-45
references: 21419701
references: J Nutr. 2012 Mar;142(3):541-7
references: 22323760
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011 Jun;70(3):245-53
references: 21703130
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Mar 19;71:17998
references: 22456049
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Dec;68(sup4):1-48
references: 28253803
references: Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1338
references: 20572743
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Mar;16(3):511-3
references: 20202433
references: J Rheumatol. 2009 Sep;36(9):1876-84
references: 19648300
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):76-9
references: 18258083
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2008 Dec;67(sup3):1-130
references: 28253819
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 Jul 10;71:18595
references: 22789519
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Sep;68(4):405-13
references: 19917192
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007 Feb;66(1):8-18
references: 17451130
references: Environ Int. 2011 Jan;37(1):42-8
references: 20673686
references: J Infect Public Health. 2011 Nov;4(5-6):219-27
references: 22118716
references: Int J Audiol. 2012 Jun;51(6):433-6
references: 22369226
references: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2008 Aug;24(8):1073-7
references: 18620490
references: Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 Sep;17(9):1484-7
references: 20610664
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Dec;69(sup6):1-44
references: 28253824
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Apr;69(2):151-7
references: 20356466
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Feb;69(1):25-37
references: 20167154
references: J Community Engagem Scholarsh. 2011 Jun 19;4(1):50-59
references: 22866196
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Feb;69(1):99-105
references: 20167160
references: BMC Public Health. 2013 Apr 02;13:289
references: 23547888
references: Child Dev Perspect. 2012 Mar 1;6(1):55-60
references: 22327297
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011;70(5):473-87
references: 22067096
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2008 Dec;67(sup2):1-98
references: 28253822
references: J Nutr. 2011 Sep;141(9):1746-53
references: 21753059
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011 Jun;70(3):236-44
references: 21703132
references: Rural Remote Health. 2010 Apr-Jun;10(2):1362
references: 20572746
references: J Nutr. 2012 Apr;142(4):764-70
references: 22378332
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011 Apr;70(2):178-85
references: 21481300
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2012 May 08;71(0):1-9
references: 22584512
references: Br J Nutr. 2010 Nov;104(10):1487-91
references: 20553638
references: Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2011 Oct;17(4):444-55
references: 21988583
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2013;72:
references: 23440347
references: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2011 Jan;15(1):44-9
references: 21276295
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2013 Aug 05;72:
references: 23984293
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jan;14(1):18-24
references: 18258072
references: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 Nov 16;103(22):1676-85
references: 22021665
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2013;72:
references: 23399790
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007 Dec;66(sup1):1-184
references: 28253133
references: Bull World Health Organ. 2011 Oct 1;89(10):741-8, 748A-748E
references: 22084512
references: Am J Public Health. 2012 Feb;102(2):277-84
references: 21940914
references: Br J Cancer. 2009 Aug 4;101(3):530-3
references: 19603026
references: J Infect Dis. 2007 Nov 15;196(10):1487-92
references: 18008228
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012 Sep;38(5):476-82
references: 22931082