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:

Contracting for Management

Current examples include:

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

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