ABSTRACT
In this chapter, Stig Andersen shares a personal account from his decade-long research into Arctic health issues and the establishment of the Arctic Health Research Centre in Aalborg. Its founding came out of Andersen’s observations while working as a medical doctor in Greenland of how very different conditions and environments for life and disease were largely neglected in health research and treatment. Andersen has found that local interest, understanding, acceptance, and appreciation have been key when detailing and planning health research and carving out research questions. As described, collaborative approaches with involvement and support to conducting health research enhances the relevance and implementation of results. It has been shown that Arctic involvement in research contributes essentially to conducting and concluding research as it supports the transfer of knowledge and skills to the Arctic. In addition, the transfer of lessons learned in the Arctic to other areas is valuable, and communicating research outside of the Arctic is of great importance.
