PCORI plans national comparative-effectiveness research network

Geared toward boosting “the nation's capacity to efficiently conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research,” the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute announced it will spend up to $68 million to support the development of an interoperable network of research networks.

Of the total amount, $56 million will go toward supporting up to eight new or existing clinical data research networks for 18 months. Goals include having the networks become capable of implementing clinical trials and having the capacity to conduct randomized and observational comparative-effectiveness studies using standardized data formats while engaging patients, health systems and clinicians in network governance and data use. (Awards for individual projects are limited to $7 million.) Another $12 million will be dedicated to supporting up to 18 new or existing “patient-powered” research networks consisting of patients with a single rare or common medical condition willing to participate in research and report data that can be shared with other network members. (Awards for individual projects would be limited to $1 million.)

Dr. Joe Selby, PCORI executive director, announced the funding during a roundtable discussion in Washington on building a national data infrastructure to support comparative-effectiveness research. Selby, who was No. 42 on Modern Healthcare's ranking of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives, acknowledged that others have had this vision before but have not overcome the challenges of creating such a research network.

Putting patients' interests first in such an endeavor can make a difference and “smooth the friction” between stakeholders, he said.

“We're going to build an infrastructure that serves their needs,” Selby said of the project's patient-first focus.

Roundtable participant Dr. Ardis Hoven, president-elect of the American Medical Association, called the effort “an exciting opportunity,” and noted its potential for advancing the use of information gleaned from clinical registries into medicine.

Interested organizations must file a letter of intent by June 19 and must complete an application by Sept. 27. Awards will be announced in December.

Follow Andis Robeznieks on Twitter: @MHARobeznieks