Board Authorizes PCORI to Offer $50 Million for Back Pain Treatment Research

WASHINGTON, DC — The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today authorized making up to $50 million available for studies comparing non-surgical interventions for the treatment of chronic low back pain through a new PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA). Persistent low back pain affects an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of U.S. adults and accounts for the majority of the $100 billion in medical costs associated with low back pain.

Studies funded through this new PFA will complement other studies on low back pain funded by PCORI. These include a study on specific surgical approaches for chronic low back pain and a study on preventing the transition from acute to chronic low back pain. In addition, we’re seeking to fund research comparing surgical versus non-surgical options for low back pain through another PFA issued earlier in 2016 with an anticipated award date of January 2017.   

In other business, PCORI’s Chief Science Officer Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, shared details on the launch of the PCORI’s new Evidence Synthesis Initiative. This initiative responds to the urgent need for timely, evidence-based information to help patients and other stakeholders make informed decisions.

Evidence synthesis evaluates all relevant completed studies on a particular clinical question or topic to clarify what is known and what evidence gaps may still exist. By building on existing research and “re-using” already generated data, evidence synthesis can yield useful information within a year or two instead of three to five years typically required for a new research study. PCORI intends to work closely with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and its Evidence-based Practice Centers network in conducting much of this work. Details of PCORI’s Evidence Synthesis Initiative are available here.

The Board also approved the posting of PCORI’s draft Data Access and Data Sharing Policy for public comment. This draft policy specifies expectations and guidelines for PCORI research awardees on the management of their data. The policy will promote data sharing and facilitate the reproduction of original analyses. The full draft of the policy is available here. Comments are due no later than December 15, 2016.