GPC uses four main processes to support research. 

1. Research Opportunity Assessment (ROA) intakes and disseminates national collaboration requests from PCORnet and helps cultivate proposal development by investigators collaborating with GPC sites submitted via GPC’s intake request form. The ROA team reviews requests for alignment with the PCORI methodology standards (reference “Standards for Formulating Research Questions” in the Methodology Checklist). Specific attention is paid to alignment for reuse of the GROUSE integrated claims environment which continues to serve as a resource for the existing 3 PCORI cohorts (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, breast cancer, obesity). Refer to page Researcher Resources 
2. Sustainability and Pricing outlines PCORnet infrastructure cost recovery and updates GPC infrastructure cost recovery models and investigator resource guides.
3. Data Request Oversight intakes GPC-level requests to execute queries and fulfill de[1]identified, limited, or identifiable data use requests following processes aligned with GPC’s data sharing agreement
4. Administration and Contracting supports all contracting and administration for the GPC PCORnet contract, take the lead for many contracted studies but also support sites when studies either contract directly or a GPC study will be led by another GPC site.

Below are a number of the collaboration strengths of GPC:

Diversity: Each GPC site encompasses acute and ambulatory care settings across the lifespan and our breadth and expansion of sites (see partner summaries) has increased representation of racial and ethnic minorities and safety net providers. As a network, we encompass a broad geographic region including urban and rural underserved populations and investigators and support teams experienced in engaging these populations. Our CDMs exceed 25 million Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries included in our GROUSE integrated claims environment that supports analysis across the entire beneficiary populations linked to our GPC sites for EHR and cancer registry characteristics.

PCORnet Compliance: GPC sites have implemented and comply with PCORnet streamlined and standardized mechanisms. All the GPC sites use centralized IRB and leverage this capability with funding opportunities through PCORI and other agencies such as the NIH, NSF, etc. All GPC sites have signed the confidentiality and data sharing agreements.

Data Security and Privacy: GPC continues to be responsive to PCORI and PCORnet’s policies regarding data security and privacy such as cell size restrictions. Additionally, GPC has pursued a distributed hybrid model where identifiable data resides at each site but can be aggregated as limited or deidentified data as required per study protocol. Our work together has developed a culture of transparency in motivation and action which in turn engenders trust among our partners notably our GROUSE claims/EHR/social determinants environment. Missouri as a hub used Amazon Web Services (AWS) to transform GROUSE to a Cloud Environment using AWS best practices to continue and automate compliance with the National Institute for Standards and Technology Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations (NIST 800.53.r412,13) to support the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act14 (HIPAA), and additional federal requirements.

PCORnet Participation: Dr. Waitman and Dr. McClay are active participant in the PCORnet Steering Committee. Their approach to leading the Greater Plains Collaborative is one to encourage sites and site PIs to actively engage in the development and

National Leadership, Participation, and Collaboration: GPC has built upon our success with the ADAPTABLE trial and currently leads in recruitment to the PREVENTABLE trial. GPC also participates n numerous PCORnet led PLACER studies, COVID related studies, NIH studies, NSF studies and other government agency funding opportunities.  GPC sites actively participate and lead studies leveraging PCORnet capabilities.