This blog post submitted by Rowena Dolor, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine, General Internal Medicine.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was authorized by Congress in 2010 and began funding research in December 2012. PCORI funding focuses on patient-centered clinical comparative effectiveness research (CER) of the various treatment options available to patients, families and clinicians to produce useful evidence for improving patient outcomes of chronic and rare disorders. The focus on patient-centeredness and stakeholder-driven research was evident at the second PCORI Annual Meeting which was held on November 17-19, 2017 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Of the over 1000 attendees, almost half of the audience identified themselves as part of a patient or community group, with the rest of the audience composed of stakeholders (payor, industry, health system) or researchers.
The four plenary sessions over the 2-and-a half day meeting consisted of an introductory keynote speech followed by a moderated discussion by 5-6 panelists who gave their unique perspective of the topic and addressed the audience’s questions. These sessions are archived on the PCORI website here and are a “must-see” for health services researchers who have received or plan to apply for PCORI funding. PCORI has funded 551 research related projects with $1.57 billion awarded to 41 U.S. states – 75% to CER, 19% to PCORnet, and the rest to methodology projects. The breakout sessions and workshops contained presentations by patients and researchers on some of the recently completed PCORI projects. Work by Duke and Durham VA stakeholders and investigators were featured throughout the meeting. 
* The Opening plenary panel on “How Can We Make Patient Needs and Values Central to Health Research and Decision Making?” included Valarie Worthy MSN, RN (pictured left) who is a patient navigator at the Duke Cancer Institute
* Shelley Hwang MD, MPH a breast cancer surgeon discussed her clinical trial on DCIS treatment options as part of a breakout session on “The Goldilocks Conundrum – PCOR and How It May Help to Ensure That Care Interventions Are Just Right”
* Laura Schanberg MD, Co-chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology presented her Patient-Powered Research Network called the Patients, Advocates and Rheumatology Teams Network for Research and Service (PARTNERS) Consortium in the breakout session on “Conducting PCOR in Rare Diseases: Success and Challenges”
* Kelli Allen, PhD, a research professor at the Durham VA Medical Center (formerly part of DGIM, now at UNC) presented her trial entitled “Physical Therapy vs. Internet-Based Exercise Training for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis” in the breakout session on “CER on Nonpharmacologic Approaches for Chronic Pain”
* Adrian Hernandez MD, MHS, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Co-PI of the PCORnet Coordinating Center, discussed the ADAPTABLE (low- vs. high-dose aspirin for coronary artery disease) and INVESTED trials as part of the workshop on “PCORnet in Action: Journey Towards People Driven Research Transformation”.
Our Mid-South Clinical Data Research Network (MS-CDRN) colleagues enjoyed a dinner at the PCORI meeting including Janis Curtis and Vanessa Green from the Duke Office of Research Informatics, Reverend Neely Williams a community partner with the Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance, Tim Carey MD, co-PI of the MSCDRN and Professor of Medicine at UNC-CH, Al Richmond, Executive Director of the Community Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) and myself (see photo to right).
When our dinner ended, the infamous Gaylord Christmas light show was playing in the hotel lobby (see photo to left).
Next year’s conference will be October 31-November 2, 2017 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City, VA. As more PCORI projects are funded or completed, this promises to be another energizing meeting that inspires those of us involved in patient-centered research and PCORnet.