On July 6th, AHRQ released a Request for Application (RFA) to develop a clinical registry of orthopedic devices, drugs, and procedures to support the development of a sustainable data infrastructure. The goal is to conduct rigorous clinical and research including comparative effectiveness and safety research. To achieve the objectives of the Effective Health Care Program, AHRQ is required to develop and maintain the infrastructure of a multi-center orthopedic registry and conduct multiple collaborative, prospective multi-center studies.
AHRQ envisions using a practice-based orthopedic registry across a broad provider network to define short and long term benefits and to help determine if implantable orthopedic devices and are harmful. The applicant is expected to form the core of the registry—a Research and Data Coordinating Center containing an infrastructure involving at least 5 separate clinical centers.
The Agency not only encourages community-based small practice sites to apply but in addition high volume institutions are encouraged to participate in the registry. State, county, city, and Native American tribal governments are eligible to apply along with public, state, and private institutions of higher education.
The grant application is due on September 23, 2009. There will be one award for $3,000,000 in FY 2010, and there are plans to award a total amount of up to $12,000,000 over four years.
For more information on (RFA-HS-10-008), go to www.grants.gov.
