PCORI Names 84 People From Across the Healthcare Community to Serve on its First Four Advisory Panels

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2013) – The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today approved 84 people with a broad range of expertise to serve on PCORI’s first four multi-stakeholder advisory panels.

The panels will advise PCORI on critical research questions for possible funding and how to ensure that PCORI’s work remains patient centered. Each panel has 21 members representing different sectors across the healthcare community, including researchers, clinicians, patients, caregivers, insurers, employers, and industry.

One panel, on Patient Engagement, is designed to advise PCORI on processes and methods to ensure the highest standards for, and a culture of, patient-centeredness in all aspects of its work. Patients make up 60% of the members of that panel. The other three panels correspond to three of PCORI’s National Priorities for Research: Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options; Improving Healthcare Systems; and Addressing Disparities. These panels will help PCORI identify and prioritize research questions in their respective areas and provide ongoing feedback on evaluating and disseminating resulting research.

“Our advisory panels will help us identify and prioritize the questions that are important to patients, caregivers clinicians and others, and also help us evaluate all of our research programs,” said Anne Beal, MD, MPH, PCORI’s Deputy Executive Director, Chief Officer for Engagement and Chief Operating Officer. “The individuals we’ve invited to serve are representative of our diverse stakeholder community. Each contributes valuable perspectives and expertise to advance our mission to fund research that provides patients and those who care for them the information they need to make better-informed decisions.”

PCORI received 1,295 applications, from 1,021 individuals, for panel membership (some people applied to be on more than one panel). PCORI staff thoroughly reviewed each application and evaluated candidates based on their personal experience, qualifications, and ability to represent their respective stakeholder communities. More information on PCORI’s process for reviewing and recommending advisory panel will be made available on the PCORI website.

PCORI’s authorizing legislation allows the institute to appoint permanent or ad hoc expert advisory panels to assist in identifying research priorities and establishing its research project agenda. The legislation also states that advisory panels must include patients, clinicians, researchers, experts in health services delivery and evidence-based medicine who have experience in a relevant topic, as well as industry representatives as appropriate.  PCORI plans to establish additional advisory panels over time, including, as needed, those related to Randomized Controlled Trials and Rare Diseases.

The panels are not policy-making bodies but are considered critical to PCORI’s ongoing effort to ensure that stakeholder input helps to refine its research portfolio and other activities.

Individual panel members have been notified of their appointment to their respective advisory panel and have until March 28 to accept their invitations.  If needed, alternate members will be selected from a list also approved by the PCORI Board today. PCORI will announce the final list of advisory panel members on April 1. The panels will convene in Alexandria, Va., April 19-20, for their orientation and first meetings.

Charters for each panel, including the scope of work for panelists, are available on the PCORI website. Advisory panel members are appointed for a one-year term, with the opportunity for reappointment for a maximum of two terms.

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PCORI Board meeting on advisory panels: http://www.pcori.org/events/special-board-of-governors-teleconferencewebinar-on-advisory-panels/

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About PCORI

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.