The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine and other Patient-Centered Network of Learning Health Systems members—including partners across six states and nine academic medical centers, healthcare systems, public health departments and private health plans—a three-year, $8.6 million grant to participate in a large, national collaborative initiative conducting clinical research more quickly and less expensively.

The National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) was designed to link researchers, patient communities, clinicians and health systems in productive research partnerships that leverage the power of large volumes of health data maintained by the partner networks.

PCORnet consists of two types of networks working toward a combined goal of clinical data research networks and patient-powered research networks. The new network is one of only seven health data networks approved by PCORI’s board of governors to be added to the PCORnet national health research resource, which is in its second phase of development.

“We’re very excited to join this important effort through which we’ll facilitate data sharing and expedite patient-centered clinical research across institutions like Ohio State,” said Dr. Peter Embi, vice chair of biomedical informatics, chief research information officer and associate dean for research informatics at OSU’s College of Medicine.

“Ultimately, this work will enable researchers and patients to participate in more clinical research studies, leading to new treatments and improvements in care that will directly benefit our patients,” added Embi, who is also site PI for the project.

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010 to fund research that will provide patients, caregivers and clinicians with evidence-based information to make more informed healthcare decisions.