CIRRIS was founded in 2017 by Dr. Christopher Patey and Paul Norman, colleagues in the emergency department at the Carbonear General Hospital, Newfoundland and Labrador, to promote and support rural health research. CIRRIS is a hub for rural innovation, healthcare research, and community engagement, helping ensure that rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities are represented in health research and policy development.

CIRRIS was created to address the gaps in health research focused on rural communities. CIRRIS recognizes that many people in Newfoundland and Labrador live outside major urban centres and face unique healthcare challenges, including limited access to healthcare services, geographic isolation, social and economic barriers, and difficulties recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural regions.

CIRRIS works to:

• Support and promote rural health research
• Build networks of researchers focused on rural healthcare issues
• Engage communities in improving local well-being
• Provide fellowships and support for students and healthcare professionals conducting rural research
• Bridge connections between rural communities and urban academic institutions
• Develop provincial and national collaborations among rural research centres