Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Receives 856 Applications for Pilot Projects Grants Program

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Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Dec 05, 2011, 03:00 ET

Review Process Will Feature Patient and Stakeholder Input

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has received 856 applications for its Pilot Projects Grants Program. PCORI will select approximately 40 projects for funding. Funded applications will address a broad range of questions about methods for engaging patients in various aspects of the research and dissemination process. The findings will contribute to building a methodological foundation for PCORI's future research agenda and program of patient-centered outcomes research.

"We attribute this amazing response to several factors," said Dr. Joe Selby, M.D., M.P.H., executive director of PCORI, "including a high level of awareness and interest in PCORI and its evolving research agenda, and a high level of interest and readiness to shift the research paradigm toward a patient-centered approach within both the research and stakeholder communities."

PCORI is working closely with the National Institutes of Health's Center for Scientific Review in preparation for the review of these applications which will take place in mid-February. The merit reviews will be distinguished by the addition of patient and stakeholder engagement as one of the criteria for scoring applications and by inclusion of three stakeholder reviewers on each review team.

Supporting the grants program process, PCORI received 349 applications from stakeholders, including 160 patients, patient advocates or caregivers, to be grant reviewers. In addition, 600 scientists volunteered to serve as reviewers. Many of these will be invited to serve as reviewers for the pilot projects grants. PCORI will stay in touch with all stakeholder and scientist applicants, involving others in future reviews of PCORI applications.

"We will conduct an in-depth evaluation to see if the changes we've made in the review process succeed in introducing a new patient-focus to how applications are scored," Selby said. "It is a major part of our commitment to live up to our name and begin to transform the research enterprise."

Based on the technical reviews, PCORI's Board of Governors will select projects for funding in late March.

SOURCE Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute