We support multi-site, EHR-data driven research through our involvement in PCORnet and the STAR Clinical Research Network.
Through NC TraCS, UNC-Chapel Hill researchers can access PCORnet®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network—a large clinical research network (CRN) that links millions of electronic health record (EHR) records across institutions. PCORnet supports patient-centered and large-scale multi-site research by harmonizing EHR data into a common data model (CDM), a standardized data warehouse structure that enables efficient comparison and secure querying of data across participating sites.
PCORnet and STAR can help researchers:
- Assess feasibility by providing counts of patients meeting certain criteria
- Identify potential participants for a multi-site study
- Receive harmonized datasets for secondary data analyses
- Find collaborators at other sites
- Navigate the inter-institutional regulatory process
PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, is a large, highly representative, "network of networks" that enables access to data routinely gathered in a variety of healthcare settings. PCORnet includes nearly 70 million patients with an encounter in the past 5 years and 32 million patients with an encounter in the previous year.
The Stakeholders, Technology, and Research Clinical Research Network (STAR CRN) is one of the 9 clinical research networks that comprise PCORnet. The STAR CRN includes: Vanderbilt Health System (lead site); UNC-Chapel Hill; Duke University; Medical University of South Carolina; Mayo Clinic; Meharry Medical College; Vanderbilt Healthcare Affiliated Network; Stanford University School of Medicine; and Wake Forest Baptist Health. STAR is particularly well suited for UNC investigators who are interested in regional collaborations. Combined, the STAR captures over 28 million patients with an encounter in the past 5 years.
PCORnet and STAR CRN are funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Prior funding was provided by the People-Centered Research Foundation.
Interested in learning more or beginning a project using a PCORnet? Request a consult
To learn more about UNC's CDM data, please see our our PCORnet@UNC Data Availability page.
For more detailed information about these networks, please see our FAQ page.