The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors has approved nearly $142.5 million to support the ongoing development and expansion of its resource for health research known as PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.

The funds include support to add seven health data networks to the collaborative initiative, which is designed to link researchers, patient communities, clinicians and health systems in productive research partnerships that leverage the power of large volumes of health data maintained by the partner networks, according to a release.

PCORI is developing PCORnet to enhance the nation’s capacity to conduct patient-centered health outcomes research more quickly, less expensively and with greater potential impact than is now possible.  

These latest funding awards will support a three-year second phase of development during which several research studies will begin. Specifically, the funding will support 34 individual health data networks that together make up PCORnet, including continued support for 27 networks selected to participate in PCORnet's first phase of development, which began in April 2014. These will be joined by seven new networks that will expand PCORnet's capacity to conduct studies on a wide range of health topics and questions affecting multiple patient populations.

Together, the 34 PCORnet partner networks cover more than 150 conditions and a wide variety of population groups.