Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Seeks Comment on Research Agenda

February 1, 2012 5:22 pm

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has published a Draft National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda and seeks public comment on the document. PCORI was established under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as an independent, non-profit organization focused on conducting research that will assist heath care providers and patients in making decisions that will improve patient outcomes. PCORI’s draft agenda for research identifies five areas where comparative effectiveness research is needed to support decision-making:

1. Assessment of Options for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
2. Improving Health Care Systems
3. Communication and Dissemination Research
4. Addressing Disparities
5. 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, as noted in a news release.

PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, MD, MPH, stated that the initial agenda “does not limit which conditions or treatments will be studied.” He added that PCORI hopes patients and other stakeholders will partner with the organization as the framework is applied “to identify the specific questions that are most important for PCORI to address.” Comments can be submitted to PCORI through March 15, 2012, by following the instructions on the PCORI Web site.