Funds Available for Patient Centered Outcomes Research Pilot Studies within the Learning Health System

Application deadline: Dec 15, 2017

The Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania is providing pilot funds for learning health system (LHS) studies in patient centered outcomes research (PCOR). For purposes of this funding announcement, the working definition for LHS is based on the 2007 Institute of Medicine report: the LHS is “one in which knowledge generation is so embedded into the core of the practice of medicine that it is a natural outgrowth and product of the healthcare delivery process and leads to continual improvement in care.” The LHS combines research, data science, and quality improvement, yielding knowledge as a by-product of the patient-clinician interaction.  An essential and distinguishing attribute of the LHS is the engagement of patients and families in its governance, research studies, and improvement projects. PCOR is formally defined by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) on its website (http://www.pcori.org/).

The goal of this pilot grant program is to advance PCOR and LHS research at Penn and assist faculty in preparing applications for extramural funding and/or implementation of new methods into practice. The focus of the pilot projects should be related to the improvement of care delivery.  Projects can address evidence generation, adoption, or application. Applications will be viewed most favorably that address or identify questions of high relevance to this RFA, defined as: important to patients, families, and practitioners; incorporating rigorous research methods within the health system; and likely to lead to future independent funding or direct applications of the research findings.   

Some examples of potential high priority topic areas would include:

• Patient and health system engagement to identify high priority interventions to test within a specified clinical area (as examples only, discharge planning of heart failure patients or antibiotic prescribing in the hospital).
• Mixed methods research to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights about the effect of health system intervention on practitioners and patients
• Formal testing of implementation methods for proven clinical interventions.
• Development of methods to leverage the electronic health record to improve the efficiency of clinical research and/or clinical operations.

Guidelines:

Grant Term:  Up to one year beginning as early as February 1, 2018. Unexpended funds must be returned at the end of the funding period.

Budget:  Applications for funds up to $40,000 in total direct costs per project will be considered to cover appropriate direct expenses. Salary support for faculty is not allowable. No indirect costs will be covered. Although up to $40,000 may be requested, the number of funded pilots will depend on the number, quality, and budget size of submitted proposals. In order to maximize funding opportunities, please limit the budget to what is absolutely needed to perform the pilot project. 

Eligibility:  The principal investigator must be a full-time Penn faculty member or trainee (with a faculty sponsor) from any Penn school. The PI must have a primary appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, UPHS, or the VA. If the principal investigator does not hold the rank of assistant professor or above at Penn, a full-time Penn faculty member at this rank must agree to serve as faculty sponsor. PIs will be expected to acknowledge PSOM support in resultant presentations and publications.  Each project must include a research scientist and health system stakeholder (e.g., practitioner or health system administrator).  In addition, proposals must either include a patient or family member stakeholder group or individual or a plan to engage such groups.

Evaluation criteria:

• documented importance, or establishes importance, of research topic or outcomes assessed, to patients, families, and practitioners;
• scientific merit, creativity, and innovation
• prospects for future extramural funding or implementation, including large-scale comparative effectiveness studies and/or incorporation into health system operations
• clinical and/or public health significance
• feasibility

Application Instructions

Use the following format:

• Cover letter that must include the following:  PI name, academic degree, rank/title, address, phone and email; sponsor’s name if applicable; title of study; study site; signature of approval of your department chair or their surrogate.
• Abstract, 250 words maximum
• Research proposal including: Specific aims, Significance, Innovation, Approach, Patient/Family Member Stakeholder Inclusion or Engagement Plan, and Plans for Future Funding.  (Not to exceed a total of 3 pages combined, single space, 11 inch font, ½ inch margins.)
• Budget and brief budget justification
• Investigator(s) biosketch(s) (NIH format)
• References

Deadline for applications is December 15, 2017 and selected applicants will be notified in January, 2018 with a start date of February 1, 2018.

Send PDF of complete application (assembled as one document) by December 15, 2017 to sabarile@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Please direct any questions to sabarile@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.