Purpose

In alignment with its strategic plan, one of PCORI’s primary strategies for influencing research funded by others to be more patient-centered is to collaborate with other research funders in funding or managing research projects. Collaborations have other advantages. They are a key strategy for leveraging expertise from elsewhere in the research community to maximize the impact of PCORI investments; for avoiding unproductive redundancy in research funding with other entities; for leveraging financial and human resources from two or more entities toward a common purpose; and for increasing PCORI’s ability to acquire experience in aspects of research management by working alongside experts from other entities.

Our authorizing law (section (d)(2)(B)) suggests that when contracting for the management of funding and conduct of research, PCORI should “give preference” to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, PCORI and its legislation recognize that a broad range of partners may bring the expertise and other strengths that make collaboration advantageous. PCORI has sought and will continue to actively seek collaborative partnerships that can advance the combined goals of scientific excellence and fiscal stewardship, as well as to broaden and expand the network of entities that are engaged in PCOR.

The PCORI Collaboration Principles, outlined below and available for download, describe the goals of PCORI collaborations and three types of collaborative arrangements that PCORI may establish with other entities. A collaboration is generally considered to be an agreement between PCORI and another entity (public or private) to jointly fund and/or to jointly manage aspects of a research initiative funded by PCORI. Although these three types of collaborative arrangements have a have differing objectives, each is premised on the aforementioned goals of scientific excellence and fiscal stewardship.

*Approved by the PCORI Board of Governors at its November 2014 meeting

Related: PCORI Defines Principles for Collaborations to Support Research and Spread the 'PCORI Way'

Read the Complete Document

General Principles of a Collaborative Arrangement

Regardless of the type of collaboration, every collaborative arrangement:

1. Should combine the expertise and resources to maximize the impact of all PCORI investments and their contributions to improving health decision-making and outcomes
2. Should embody and promote PCORI’s unique approach to research
3. Should meet all applicable requirements and parameters of PCORI’s relevant statutory requirements (e.g. adherence to PCORI Methodology Standards and Peer Review Policy)
4. Should preserve PCORI’s ability to impact decisions at key points in the research initiative or project
5. Should be entered into with the collaborating entity with the most appropriate experience and expertise, requisite capacity, and a record of success for the project
6. Should adhere to PCORI’s standards for communication, acknowledgement and attribution (e.g. citing PCORI in public announcements, use of the PCORI logo)

Existing PCORI Collaborations

PCORI collaborations may take different forms, depending on the project and the partner. Among those that we have pursued, and will continue to pursue, are:

Co-funding for Research

Current examples include:

• Research to Tackle Health Disparities Related to Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure (National Institutes of Health)

  • Comparative Effectiveness of Health System vs. Multi-level Interventions to Reduce Hypertension Disparities 
    Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH; Johns Hopkins University

  • Collaboration to Improve Blood Pressure in the US Black Belt-Addressing the Triple Threat
    Monika M. Safford, MD; University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Study of Patient-Centered Approach to Preventing Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults (National Institute on Aging)

  • Preventing Serious Falls Among Older Adults - The STRIDE Study
    Shalender Bhasin, MD; Thomas Gill, MD; David B. Reuben, MD
    Harvard Medical School; Yale Medical School; UCLA Medical School

• Comparing Options for Management: Patient-Centered Results for Uterine Fibroids (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

  • Comparing Options for Management: Patient-Centered Results for Uterine Fibroids (COMPARE-UF) 
    Evan R. Myers, MD, MPH; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Supporting the Next Generation of Learning Health Systems Researchers (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

  • Funding Opportunity: Learning Health Systems Mentored Career Development Program (K12)

• RFA: Atrial Fibrillation Strategically Focused Research Network (American Heart Association)

  • Decision-making and Choices to Inform Dialogue and Empower A-Fib Patients (DECIDE) Center
    Angela Fagerlin, PhD; University of Utah

• Pilot Project on Coordination of Care for Frail Elderly (John A. Hartford Foundation)

  • Care Align Initiative: A Pilot Project on Coordination of Care for Frail Elderly
    Caroline Blaum, MD, MS; New York University School of Medicine

• PCORnet and Registry Data Linkage Project (PCORI, US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health)

  • Improving Data Completeness and Expanding Available Data Elements in the TVT Registry through the use of Electronic Health Record Based Data: Linking the TVT Registry and PCORnet
    Maurice E. Sarano, MD; Mayo Clinic

• Genesis Projects (PCORI, US Food and Drug Administration, Reagan-Udall Foundation)

  • Planning for Congenital Zika Syndrome Surveillance in PCORnet and Sentinel
    William Hogan, MD, MS; University of Florida

  • Data Model for Initiatives to Monitor Exposure to Antimicrobials in PCORnet and Sentinel (DataMIME)
    William Trick, MD; Medical Research Analytics and Informatics Alliance

Contracting for Management

Current examples include:

• PCORnet Coordinating Centers: To Enhance the Nation’s Ability to Conduct Patient-Centered Comparative Effectiveness Research

  • PCORnet Coordinating Center (Harvard Pilgrim Health Care/Duke University)

    • Phase I Project (2013) - Richard Platt, MD, MSc; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.

    • Phase II Project (2016) - Adrian F. Hernandez, MD, MHS and Richard Platt, MD, MSc; Duke University

  • PCORnet Coordinating Center (Genetic Alliance)

    • Phase I Project (2015) - Sharon Terry, MA; Genetic Alliance, Inc.

    • Phase II Project (2016) - Sharon Terry, MA; Genetic Alliance, Inc.

  • Natural Experiments Coordinating Center
    Kenrik Duru, MD, MSHS; Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles

• Pilot Project Merit Review Process (NIH)

Specialized Staff Expertise, Training, and Collaboration

Staff detail in instances where staff from other entities can bring specialized expertise to PCORI and provide an opportunity for our staff to train and collaborate in new areas.

• Currently, we have no collaborations of this type.

Posted: December 23, 2014; Updated: June 12, 2018