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Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

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    Fact Sheets: Learn More About PCORI

    Download fact sheets about out work, the research we fund, and our programs and initiatives.

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    Browse through an alphabetical list of frequently accessed and searched terms for information and resources.

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    Evidence Updates from PCORI-Funded Studies

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    Find out about projects based on the health conditions they focus on, the state they are in, and if they have results.

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    • Addressing Disparities
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    Featured Topic: Women's Health

    Learn more about the projects we support on conditions that specifically or more often affect women.

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    Engagement

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    Engagement Tools and Resources for Research

    This searchable peer-to-peer repository includes resources that can inform future work in patient-centered outcomes research.

    Explore Engagement in Health Literature

    This tool enables searching for published articles about engagement in health research.

    Research Fundamentals: A New On-Demand Training

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    PCORI Funding Opportunities

    View and learn about the newly opened funding announcements and the upcoming PFAs in 2021.

    Tips for Submitting a Responsive LOI

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    Meetings & Events

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    Special PCORI Webinar: February 2, 2pm ET

    Hear from PCORI leaders about ways to get involved in PCOR, improvements to our funding opportunities, and more. Register

    Confronting COVID-19: A Webinar Series

    Learn more about the series and access recordings and summary reports of all six sessions.

    2020 PCORI Annual Meeting

    Watch recordings of all sessions, and view titles and descriptions of the posters presented at the virtual meeting.

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  • Research & Results
  • PCORnet®, The National Patient-Center...

PCORnet®, The National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network

An Ecosystem for Making Patient-Centered Research More Efficient

PCORI funded the development of PCORnet®, The National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, to address an urgent national need—capacity to conduct patient-centered outcomes research faster, more efficiently, and at lower cost, by leveraging the power of health data, reusable research infrastructure, and unique patient partnerships.

PCORnet addresses several challenges of traditional clinical research, including the time and expense involved in developing a study, the lack of data on certain rare conditions or underserved populations, and the recognition that many studies don’t answer the questions most important to patients. All these issues can lead to study results that are of limited use to patients and others across the healthcare community.

The Evolution of PCORnet

PCORnet's development began in December 2013 when PCORI’s Board of Governors approved funding for an initial group of 29 partner networks, both health system–based Clinical Research Networks (CRNs) and patient-initiated Patient-Powered Research Networks (PPRNs). PCORnet's first phase of development lasted 18 months.

A second phase involving 13 CRNs, 20 PPRNs, and two Health Plan Research Networks (HPRNs) operated from the fall of 2015 through late 2018. In its current iteration, PCORnet includes nine CRNs, two HPRNs, and a coordinating center.

Stakeholder Partnerships

PCORI has funded health plans and other stakeholders to partner with PCORnet to fill significant evidence gaps in comparative effectiveness research:

  • Project Data Link - Humana
  • HealthCore-Anthem Research Network (HCARN)
  • A Model for Improving Patient Engagement and Data Integration with PCORnet Patient-Powered Research Networks and Payer Stakeholders (HealthCore-Anthem)

These initiatives explore research opportunities that leverage data linkage and other technical activities, build partnerships with patients and other stakeholders, and ultimately support improved patient decision making and care.

An infographic showing the accomplishments of PCORnet, the PCORI-created health data platform designed to make clinical research more efficient and less expensive. PCORnet represents more than 68 million patients who have had a medical encounter in the pa

Research

Rapid-Cycle Research Studies and Projects

PCORI is funding several rapid-cycle research studies and projects using PCORnet’s infrastructure to support rapid generation of evidence on stakeholder-prioritized queries.

Demonstration Research Studies

PCORI funded several demonstration studies to answer important questions while testing the technical capacity and function of PCORnet’s infrastructure:

  • Patient-Powered Research Networks Research Demonstration Projects
  • Obesity Observational Research Initiative
  • Optimal Maintenance Aspirin Dose for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
  • The Natural Experiments Network: A Collaborative Initiative
  • Health Systems PCORnet Demonstration Projects

Learning Healthcare Systems

The Learning Healthcare System Networks Project (previously called the People-Centered Communities) is developing four pilots based on Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's successful learning network model. The model supports communities of people, clinicians, and institutions to improve health outcomes through quality improvement and robust research. Read more about it.

Patient-Centered Approach

PCORnet is a "network of networks" that brings together patients, clinicians, researchers, health plans, and healthcare systems to share information and participate in research.

PCORnet embodies PCORI’s patient-centered, engaged approach to research. The network’s governance structure was modeled to make patient engagement a priority. Patients hold network leadership positions, contribute to the decisions about network participation, and serve as partners in research. Because these stakeholders help formulate and approve research problems, PCORnet answers practical questions, leading to better-informed healthcare decisions.

Patient/Participant-Driven Research Organizations

Several PPRNs led by patients and organized around the evidence needs of their communities participated in phases 1 and 2 of PCORnet with PCORI funding support. They developed or expanded their capacity to engage their communities and conduct research that addressed their priorities. Now through PPRN Engagement Awards provided by PCORI, PPRNs will continue to strengthen their capacity to generate and prioritize research ideas, strengthen their capacity to disseminate study results, and participate in a PPRN learning network. Read more about this work.

To learn more about the PCORnet Partner Networks, click here.

Download the PCORnet Fact Sheet
Go to the PCORnet Website

Posted: December 16, 2013; Updated: March 31, 2020

PCORnet®, The National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network

  • Rapid-Cycle Research Studies and Projects

About Us

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Research & Results

  • Explore Our Portfolio
  • Research Fundamentals
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  • Putting Evidence to Work
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Engagement

  • The Value of Engagement
  • Engagement in Health Research Literature Explorer
  • Influencing the Culture of Research
  • Engagement Awards
  • Engagement Resources
  • Engage with Us

Funding Opportunities

  • What & Who We Fund
  • What You Need to Know to Apply
  • Applicant Training
  • Merit Review
  • Awardee Resources
  • Help Center

Meetings & Events

February 2
PCORI 2021 and Beyond: Opportunities for Funding and Involvement in Patient-Centered Research
February 9
Board of Governors Meeting: February 9, 2021
February 11
Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement Winter 2021 Meeting

PCORI

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Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute

1828 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 827-7700 | Fax: (202) 355-9558
[email protected]

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