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Clinical Data Research Networks

PCORnet: Meeting Clinical Trials’ Need for Speed

Posted on by Dr. Francis Collins

Doctor with an iPad-type device talking with a patient

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Comparative effectiveness research (CER) studies aim to determine what works (and what doesn’t) in the real world of clinical medicine. Such studies are essential to identify the safest, most effective ways of detecting, treating, and preventing disease. Yet, both patients and researchers are often frustrated by the agonizingly slow pace at which many CER studies proceed. Under our current system, it’s often a long, costly process to identify trial sites, recruit volunteers, run the study, compile data, and, finally, analyze the results. The time is ripe to revamp the way we do this.