PCOR Translation Center

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Translation Center (Translation Center) supports the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's (PCORI's) commitment to making research findings comprehensible and useful to patients, clinicians, and others in making healthcare decisions. Drawing on AIR’s expertise in health communications, health literacy, dissemination, medicine, health services, public health, health disparities, and methods for comparative effectiveness research, the AIR-managed Translation Center prepares summaries of peer-reviewed PCORI study findings.

Two summaries, one for the general public and one for healthcare professionals, present results in a consistent format using clear language tested with each audience. As described in PCORI’s authorizing law, these materials must include considerations specific to certain subpopulations, risk factors, and comorbidities; describe research methods and limitations; and identify what further research may be needed. Under PCORI’s direction, the Translation Center also prepares other materials for PCORI, including Spanish translations of the public summaries and summaries of in-progress research projects.

Additionally, the Translation Center supports PCORI’s efforts to disseminate findings from specific PCORI-funded studies through professional medical societies and patient and community-based organizations. The Translation Center combines contextual information and findings from these studies or systematic reviews in brief and concise Evidence Updates for a variety of audiences, including clinicians and consumers. These updates can be distributed through interested organizations to inform their constituents.

Partners include Abt Associates and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.