Application Process

All research that plans to use patient data or recruit from clinical sites within the PCRN (i.e. Nationwide Children’s Primary Care Network, Nationwide Children’s School Health Services, or Partners For Kids community practices) should apply.

We ask that all projects involving direct patient interaction (i.e. all studies except those that are purely EMR or claims data-based), have a Provider Research Champion (PRC) from within Primary Care. If you are not based within Primary Care or do not have a PRC at the time of application, that is fine! We will help you find one.

A PRC is a provider (physician or nurse practitioner) who can act as a resource for you as you design and implement your study. Our PRCs are clinicians who can help advise you and your study team about opportunities and barriers within the clinical setting that will help you carry out a successful study.

As soon as you start planning your project! Our application process is designed to help studies create a well-designed and feasible study for a grant or IRB application. You can certainly apply after you have received grant funding or IRB approval, but our leadership team can be helpful from the very beginning. For example, we are able to provide Letters of Support for grant applications.

The review process is different for each type of study, as we want to make sure we are being helpful while holding up the progress of your research.

1. Data-based studies (i.e. studies using EMR or claims data): These applications are short and will be reviewed by a member of the PCRN leadership team within 1-2 weeks of submission with the goal of the quickest possible turnaround.
2. Minimal Risk studies (e.g. surveys, studies involving consent that do not involve drugs or devices): These studies will be reviewed by the Executive Committee.
3. Studies involving drugs and devices: These studies will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and the Steering Committee.

Our Executive Committee, which consists of research and clinical leaders within the PCRN and at Nationwide, meets on a quarterly basis to discuss applications. Our Steering Committee, which consists of providers, patients and families, meets on as-needed basis to review studies that are greater than minimal risk or studies that would like input from the Steering Committee.

The PCRN Medical Director and Program Manager will help ensure the success of your study in the following ways:

• Ensure the availability of an adequate sample meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. 
• Identify budget and resource needs. 
• Develop a timeline integrating the new study with existing projects. 
• Develop practice education and training materials for the study. 
• Ensure appropriate IRB and regulatory approval. 
• Create an initial plan for study dissemination. 
• Identify data sharing plan requirements for funding agency or other entities.