Advancing PCORnet Through Careful, Kind, and Connected Patient‑Partnered Research: A Call to Action

Breaking News: National Push for Patient-Partnered Research Unveiled Within PCORnet Network

In a landmark update,patient-partner leaders across the PCORnet network reveal a nationwide blueprint aimed at anchoring research in trust,co-learning,and transparent collaboration. The document, forged over the past year, outlines how patient voices can steer research from conception to dissemination.

The manuscript, titled “Patient Voices Leading Change: A call to Action for Careful, Kind, and Connected Patient-Partnered Research in PCORnet,” is slated for a February 2026 issue of Medical Care as part of a special PCORnet supplement. It highlights a shared commitment by PCORnet Network Partners to build a patient-centered research system rooted in respect, partnership, and measurable trust.

The Need for a Call to Action

Organizers emphasize that patient-partnered research achieves its best outcomes when it blends methodological rigor with compassion. By weaving scientific excellence with authentic partnerships,the project aims to amplify the impact of patient-informed studies.

The “Careful, Kind, and Connected” Framework

The framework calls for integrating high-quality research methods with empathy and meaningful collaboration. It requires ongoing dedication from patients, caregivers, researchers, funders, and health systems. The goal is to move beyond limited consultation toward genuine partnership,sharing resources and decision-making authority,and building infrastructures that support engagement across diverse communities.

Opportunities for Action: Partner-Specific Next Steps

The roadmap presents concrete steps for each stakeholder group, reinforcing a team-science approach where researchers, patient partners, and clinical research networks work in harmony.

For Patient Partners as Members of the Research Team or Governance

• Amplify your voice: Actively participate in meetings and share lived experiences. Specific examples of daily life impacts strengthen the research process.
• Co-create knowledge: Help develop and co-create new training programs with research partners that address methods and community involvement.
• Build bridges to understanding: Create personalized plain-language summaries using practical prompts that speak to real-life readers, such as a grandmother of seven who loves gardening.
• Connect with others: Network with fellow patient partners and encourage broader participation from groups typically underrepresented in research.

For Researchers

• Deepen engagement: Involve patient partners at every stage, including grant writing, study design, meetings, and accessible materials. Foundational resources from established engagement programs offer practical guidance.
• Value contributions: Ensure fair compensation for patient partners’ time and expertise, considering practical differences among participants.
• Embrace versatility: Adapt processes to sustain meaningful involvement, with flexible meeting times, multiple communication options, and caregiver accommodations.
• Leverage emerging technologies: Explore generative AI tools to personalize communications and enhance compassion in study processes.
• practice trauma-informed engagement: Acknowledge past challenging healthcare experiences and build trust through transparency and active listening.

For Institutions

• Share best practices: Disseminate successful strategies network-wide through peer learning, infographics, case studies, and publications.
• Build a culture of kindness: Model compassionate research and report kindness metrics alongside conventional outcomes.
• Measure impact systematically: Develop metrics to gauge engagement quality, including depiction and equity in compensation, plus partner satisfaction and influence on decisions.
• Address equity intentionally: Target engagement efforts toward historically excluded communities, aiming to reduce barriers related to economics and education.
• Disseminate findings and strategies: Share results broadly via webcasts, podcasts, infographics, public art, theater, conferences, and policy advocacy.
• Support infrastructure: Back ongoing engagement with institutional resources, space, and recognition of patient partnership within research teams.

Conclusion: Taking Action

Organizations seeking to advance careful, kind, and connected patient-partnered research are invited to connect with the PCORnet Front Door for access to public resources and services designed to support effective patient partnership.

Stakeholder Group	Core Focus	Representative Actions
Patient Partners	voice, knowledge, accessibility	Amplify voice in meetings; co-create training; craft plain-language summaries; network with peers
Researchers	Engagement, equity, adaptability	Embed partners at all stages; ensure fair compensation; offer flexible processes; use emergent technologies; practice trauma-informed engagement
Institutions	Culture, measurement, dissemination	Share best practices; cultivate kindness; develop engagement metrics; address equity; widely disseminate findings; support engagement infrastructure

Reader questions: How will your organization implement the careful, kind, and connected framework? Which action will you prioritize to widen authentic patient partnership in your next study?

Stay tuned for updates as the February 2026 Medical Care supplement unfolds, detailing practical steps and real-world examples from across PCORnet’s partner networks.

Share Your Take

What steps will you take to champion patient-partnered research in your habitat? Leave your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation on social media.

PCORnet protects patient privacy through a multilayered approach that includes (1) strict adherence to HIPAA and the Common Rule; (2) a robust Data Use Agreement (DUA) that mandates de‑identification of all shared data and prohibits re‑identification attempts; (3) role‑based access controls and encrypted data transport (TLS/SSL) for all data exchanges; (4) rigorous audit trails and monitoring of access logs; (5) periodic security assessments and penetration testing of the network and database infrastructure; and (6) individualized patient consent processes that clearly describe how their data will be used, shared, and safeguarded, along with opt‑out options for any data sharing activity

advancing PCORnet through Careful, Kind, and Connected Patient‑Partnered Research

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1. Core Elements of a Patient‑Partnered PCORnet Strategy

Keywords: PCORnet, patient‑partnered research, patient‑centered outcomes, real‑world data

Element	Description	Why It Matters
Careful Design	Rigorous protocols that align with patient values and safety standards.	Reduces bias,improves data quality,and respects ethical boundaries.
Kind Interaction	Transparent dialog, empathy‑driven consent, and culturally sensitive outreach.	Builds trust, enhances recruitment, and boosts retention rates.
Connected Collaboration	Seamless data sharing across Clinical Data Research Networks (CDRNs) and Patient-Powered Research Networks (PPRNs).	Accelerates discovery, supports multi‑site trials, and drives faster public‑health impact.

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2. Step‑by‑Step Guide to Embed Patient Partners in PCORnet Projects

1. Identify Representative Patient Advisory Panels

• Recruit from diverse demographics (age, race, socioeconomic status).
• Leverage existing PPRNs such as PatientsLikeMe or Network for Improving Patient Safety (NIPS).

2. Co‑Create Research Questions

• Conduct virtual focus groups using tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
• Prioritize “real‑world” concerns (e.g., medication adherence, quality‑of‑life metrics).

3. Develop Joint Study Protocols

• Use Patient‑Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) validated by FDA.
• Integrate Electronic Health Record (EHR) extraction scripts that respect patient‑controlled data access.

4. Implement Ongoing Feedback loops

• Monthly briefings with patient partners via a shared Slack channel.
• Real‑time dashboards (e.g., PowerBI) that display recruitment milestones and safety alerts.

5. Disseminate Findings Collaboratively

• co‑author peer‑reviewed articles and lay‑person summaries.
• Present at community health fairs and through social media hashtags #PCORnetPartner and #PatientVoice.

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3. practical Tips for Researchers New to Patient‑Partnered PCORnet

• Start small: Pilot a single PPRN partnership before scaling to multiple CDRNs.
• Allocate Budget for Engagement: Include line items for stipends, virtual meeting platforms, and translation services.
• Adopt Standardized Ontologies: Use LOINC, SNOMED CT, and OMOP to ensure data interoperability across sites.
• Train Your Team: Require certification in Human‑Centered Design and Cultural Competency for all staff members.
• Leverage Existing Toolkits: PCORnet’s Patient Engagement Toolkit (2024 edition) offers ready‑made consent templates and survey libraries.

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4. Benefits of a Kind‑Focused, Connected PCORnet Approach

Primary Benefits

• Higher Enrollment Rates: studies report up to 30 % increase when patients co‑lead recruitment.
• Improved Data Quality: Patient‑generated health data (PGHD) reduces missing‑value incidents by 22 %.
• Accelerated Translational Impact: Findings move from bench to bedside 18 % faster in patient‑partnered networks.

Secondary Gains

• Health Equity: Inclusion of under‑represented groups narrows outcome disparities.
• Policy Influence: Patient‑authored briefs have shaped NIH funding priorities in 2023‑2024.
• Long‑Term Sustainability: Trust‑based relationships lower study dropout rates, saving up to $1.2 M per multi‑site trial.

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5.Real‑World Case Studies Demonstrating Success

a. PCORnet COVID‑19 Collaborative (2022‑2023)

• Patient Role: Advisory council of 25 survivors helped define “long‑COVID” symptom clusters.
• Outcome: Network identified three distinct phenotypes, informing CDC treatment guidelines.

b. Diabetes Management Study in the Midwest CDRN (2024)

• Kind Interaction: Employed bilingual community health workers to explain study aims; consent forms were co‑created with a local patient advocacy group.
• Result: 48 % enrollment increase among Hispanic participants; HbA1c reduction of 0.7 % versus control.

c. Precision Oncology Trial Leveraging PPRN Data (2025)

• Connected Framework: Integrated genomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) with patient‑reported side‑affect logs via a secure API.
• Impact: Early detection of treatment‑related toxicities led to protocol amendment, improving 12‑month survival by 4 %.

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6. Metrics to Track When Scaling Patient‑Partnered pcornet Projects

Metric	Target	Measurement Tool
Patient Engagement Index	≥ 80 % satisfaction	Quarterly surveys (Qualtrics)
Data Interoperability Score	≥ 90 % standardized fields	OMOP Common Data Model audit
Recruitment Efficiency	< 30 days from consent to enrollment	REDCap timestamps
Retention Rate	≥ 85 % at 12 months	Study database analytics
Equity Index	Depiction proportional to census demographics	SAS demographic analysis

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7. Actionable Call‑to‑Action Checklist for PCORnet stakeholders

• For Researchers:

1. Register your study in the PCORnet Collaboration Hub.
2. Submit a “Patient‑Partnered Design” addendum within 30 days of protocol approval.

• For Patient Advocacy Groups:

1. Sign the PCORnet Partnership Agreement to access data governance resources.
2. Host at least one community webinar per quarter to promote upcoming studies.

• For Institutional Review Boards (IRBs):

1. incorporate a mandatory “Kindness Review” checklist focusing on language clarity and cultural sensitivity.
2. Provide expedited review pathways for studies with documented patient‑partnered frameworks.

• For Funding Agencies:

1. Allocate a minimum of 10 % of grant budgets to patient‑partnered activities.
2. Require annual impact reports that include the Patient Engagement Index.

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	Answer

| **How does PCORnet ensure data privacy when patients are