Louisiana Clinical Data Research Network Partners With Ochsner Health System
New Orleans, La. (PRWEB) March 26, 2014 -- The PCORI-funded Louisiana Clinical Data Research Network (LACDRN) recently added Ochsner Health System to its collaborative team of partners who are working to develop and expand a health data network that will be part of PCORnet: the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network.
The addition of new partners like Ochsner will help the LACDRN achieve its primary goal of having a highly representative electronic data infrastructure for conducting clinical trials for a larger, defined population in Louisiana. It will allow Ochsner, and LACDRN, to conduct clinical research at multiple sites at the same time, which is more efficient for accruing patients and completing studies in a timely fashion.
Additionally, the presence of a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) at Ochsner Baptist that is capable of conducting Phases I-IV clinical research will be a huge asset to the network. The CTU is the only such comprehensive unit in the entire state, as well as the Gulf Coast region, thus adding yet another new dimension that strengthens this partnership.
“The LACDRN provides an unprecedented opportunity for health systems, research and academic centers, and communities in Louisiana to work collaboratively to conduct comparative effectiveness research that helps improve health of the population,” said Dr. Anjum Khurshid, Principal Investigator and Director of Health Systems at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). “We are delighted to see a major health system like Ochsner join the LACDRN and become an active partner in helping us reach the goals of this project.”
“Ochsner is very excited to be part of this network and to work with our colleagues in the State and in other PCORnet-funded sites in the U.S.,” said Sohail Rao, MD, System Vice President for Research, Ochsner Health System. “Participation in this network will not only enhance the capacity of research at Ochsner but will also benefit our patients who will have the opportunity to enroll in cutting-edge clinical protocols for treatment of chronic diseases.”
The LACDRN is one of 29 such networks that were approved nationwide for a total of approximately $93.5 million from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Dec. 17, 2013, to form this new national resource that aims to boost the efficiency of health research.
Since receiving the PCORI award, the LACDRN has established a succinct communication model with its research partners, PCORI and the other networks to increase efficiency and productivity in reaching out to investigators and administrators on this project. It is currently recruiting IT and community engagement specialists, as well as developing the infrastructure for securing data sharing and HIPAA compliance in the LACDRN.
During the 18 month project, this collaborative partnership between LPHI, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Tulane University and Ochsner Health System will work together to build an infrastructure for clinical research that may add new partners from across the state and thereby benefit millions of patients in Louisiana. Additionally, the team will advance the capacity to conduct efficient clinical research on two highly prevalent health conditions, obesity and diabetes, along with multiple associated comorbidities, sickle cell disease, and some rare cancers.
For more information about the LACDRN, please click here.
About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI)
Founded in 1997, The Louisiana Public Health Institute’s mission is to promote and improve the health and quality of life in Louisiana through public-private partnering at the community, parish and state levels. By fostering collaborative endeavors in the areas of health information, public policy, applied research, and community capacity enhancement, LPHI works to develop community-oriented solutions that improve the health of the Louisiana population. For more information, visit http://www.lphi.org.
About PCORI
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed health care decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. More information is available at http://www.pcori.org.
Mary Martin Fein, Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), +1 (504) 301-9814, [email protected]
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