PCORnet’s Collaborative Research Groups

Mark J Pletcher,^1,2 Christopher B Forrest,³ Thomas W Carton<sup>4

1</sup>Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, ²Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, ³Applied Clinical Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, ⁴Division of Health Services Research, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA, USA

Abstract: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) launched a multi-institutional “network of networks” in 2013 – Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) – that is designed to conduct clinical research that is faster, less expensive, and more responsive to the information needs of patients and clinicians. To enhance cross-network and cross-institutional collaboration and catalyze the use of PCORnet, PCORI has supported formation of 11 Collaborative Research Groups focusing on specific disease types (e.g., ­cardiovascular health and cancer) or particular patient populations (e.g., pediatrics and health disparities). PCORnet’s Collaborative Research Groups are establishing research priorities within these focus areas, establishing relationships with potential funders, and supporting development of specific research projects that will use PCORnet resources. PCORnet remains a complex, multilevel, and heterogeneous network that is still maturing and building a diverse portfolio of observational and interventional people-centered research; engaging with PCORnet can be daunting, particularly for outside investigators. We believe the Collaborative Research Groups are stimulating interest and helping investigators navigate the complexity, but only time will tell if these efforts will bear fruit in terms of funded multicenter PCORnet projects.

Keywords: PCORI, PCORnet, network, collaboration, infrastructure