Writing Your Grant for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

Abstract

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) represents a new way of doing research by emphasizing patient and stakeholder engagement and supporting comparative effectiveness research. In addition to investigator-initiated projects, PCORI also funded a national data network called PCORnet. PCORnet was established to foster observational and experimental comparative effectiveness research by providing a mechanism to collect electronic medical record data from hospitals, physicians’ offices, and clinics. Two sets of networks were created, one based on system-based networks from hospitals, health plans, and practice-based networks called clinical data research networks (CDRNs). The other network is operated and governed by patient groups and their partners called patient-powered research networks (PPRNs). Five priorities for PCORI funding include the following: assessment of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options; improving healthcare systems; communication and dissemination research; addressing disparities; and accelerating patient-centered outcomes and methodological research. PCORI has funded 551 projects to date as of November 1, 2016, awarding 1.57 billion dollars in grant support. Even if PCORI is not renewed, it is anticipated that the CDRN and PPRNs established through PCORI will seek and be supported through funding from other agencies taking advantage of the large amounts of data representing populations across the country.