Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Seeks Input on National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today released for public comment a first draft of its National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda, which will be used to guide funding announcements for comparative clinical effectiveness research that will give patients and those who care for them the ability to make better-informed health decisions.

The 53-day public comment period, which will end in mid-March, will be used to solicit feedback and revise the priorities and agenda before a final version of each is adopted by PCORI's Board of Governors.

"We want to hear from patients, caregivers, providers  and the wider health care community on whether our draft priorities and initial research agenda capture the broad areas where more evidence-based information is needed to make better decisions," said PCORI Board Chair Eugene Washington, M.D., M.Sc. "This is a major milestone in our work as we continue to collaborate with all stakeholders and to build on the work of others for what we  expect will be the most patient-centered research agenda yet."

The draft National Priorities for Research identifies five areas where comparative effectiveness research is needed to support decision-making:

• Assessment of Options for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment;
• Improving Health Care Systems;
• Communication and Dissemination Research;
• Addressing Disparities; and
• Accelerating Patient-Centered Outcomes Research and Methodological Research.

These areas encompass the patient-centered research that PCORI intends to fund and are inclusive of all diseases and health conditions. PCORI's draft Research Agenda outlines more specific areas of research for each of the five priorities.

"These priorities and agenda give a framework to and identify the broad questions that must be addressed so that patients can make better and more personalized decisions in partnership with their clinicians across all areas of health," said PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, M.D., M.P.H.  "This initial agenda does not limit which conditions or treatments will be studied. It is a starting point. We hope that patients and other stakeholders will join with us in the coming months as we apply this framework to identify the specific questions that are most important for PCORI to address.  We will be asking the community to think boldly about research projects across all five priority areas."

The public comment period will remain open until 11:59 p.m. EST on March 15. PCORI encourages individuals to provide comment through its website, but will also accept input by mail. Responses received through www.pcori.org will be published on the website.

PCORI will conduct additional forums to obtain and incorporate more public feedback on the draft national priorities for research and research agenda. These outreach efforts will include focus groups, involving patients, caregivers and clinicians, as well as a national forum on February 27 in Washington, D.C. The forum will be webcast and individuals will be able to participate remotely through a teleconference.

After reviewing the public feedback received, PCORI will publish a report that summarizes the input with an explanation of how it led to changes in the draft priorities and agenda. The PCORI Board of Governors then must adopt the priorities and agenda before it can issue primary funding announcements. PCORI will issue its first funding announcements in May.

"This is an ongoing process and PCORI is a learning organization," Selby added. "Once the initial priorities and agenda are adopted, we will work closely and continuously with all stakeholders to refine the agenda and to identify specific areas and questions where PCORI's research will have the greatest impact."

Draft National Priorities and Research Agenda

Provide Comment on the National Priorities and Research Agenda

Information on PCORI's National Patient and Stakeholder Dialogue

About PCORI
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization created by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. More information is available at www.pcori.org.

SOURCE Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute