PCORI Board Approves 2015 Budget and Release of Draft Proposal on Peer Review for Public Comment

WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 16, 2014) — The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors approved PCORI’s proposed $462.8 million Fiscal Year 2015 budget at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 15.

The Board also approved for public comment PCORI’s draft proposal for conducting peer review of its primary research and public release of its research findings. The proposal outlines how PCORI plans to meet its legislative mandate to address these questions, including making its research findings available publicly within a specific timeframe.

Interested individuals and organizations may read the full draft and provide comments through PCORI’s website until 11:59 pm ET, Friday, Nov. 7. PCORI will host a public forum on Monday, Sept. 29, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 15, to provide opportunities for interested individuals to learn more.

The budget approved by the Board covers projected FY2015 expenses for currently committed research funding, as well as for program support and administrative expenses. Since it first began approving research awards in 2012, PCORI has committed a total of $549 million in support for comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) and related projects.

The approved budget includes funding for PCORnet, PCORI’s ambitious initiative to develop a national patient-centered clinical research network. The Board also began discussions about funding for phase II of PCORnet, which is designed to allow CER and other types of outcomes studies to be conducted more efficiently and cost-effectively. PCORI staff presented an initial proposal for the funding levels needed to sustain the Clinical Data Research Networks (CDRNs) and Patient-Powered Research Networks (PPRNs) that comprise PCORnet once the 18-month first phase ends in September 2015.

In addition, principal investigators from two CDRNs -- Louisiana CDRN and PaTH – and two PPRNs -- DuchenneConnect and Community Engaged Network for All (CENA) -- shared with the Board the challenges and successes they have experienced in building and expanding their networks during the first six months of phase I.

PCORI Methodology Committee chair Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, reported on the committee’s progress, including work to develop new methodology standards in two areas, cluster research designs and complex interventions.

PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby also invited Board members and meeting participants to explore PCORI’s newly launched redesigned website. The new site better reflects PCORI’s mission and vision and features a mobile-friendly platform and more information on what PCORI does and how visitors can become involved.

Presentation materials and an archive of the webinar from yesterday’s Board meeting are available on PCORI’s website.