North America. AHRQ awards new grants to primary care practice-based research networks

North America

AHRQ awards new grants to primary care practice-based research networks

Keywords: Development grants, Research, Primary care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has announced the award of developmental grants to 36 primary care practice-based research networks as part of an ongoing initiative. The awards will total over $3 million in the first year, with a combined three-year total of more than $6 million. Primary care practice-based research networks are groups of primary care practices working together with academic researchers to answer community-based health care questions and to translate research findings into practice.

The awards will fund a variety of projects, such as the development of information technology infrastructure to facilitate research and implementation of findings, pilot research projects on such topics as optimal management of chronic diseases, the delivery of preventive services, community-based detection and response to emerging public health threats, and disparities in the health care of priority populations (especially rural residents and racial/ethnic minorities).

The agency has also awarded a contract to Indiana University at Indianapolis,in partnership with the Chicago-based National Opinion Research Center, for the establishment of a primary care practice-based research network resource center. The center will assess the developmental needs of individual networks and provide appropriate technical and consultative services. It will also support the 36 agency-funded networks, and new networks to be awarded grants as part of a new initiative co-sponsored by AHRQ and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,which will fund the study of the networks' efforts to promote healthy behaviours among patients seen in primary care practices.

Further information about the networks is available at www.ahcpr.gov/research/pbrnfact.htm