A center focused on improving clinical trials in rural and frontier areas.
Official title: The Primary Care Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center (PRaCTICe)
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11116229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The PRaCTICe initiative is working to make health studies better for people living in rural areas by teaming up with local communities to create research that meets their health needs, so everyone can benefit from the findings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | September 22, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,491,508 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2OD038368-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are individuals living in rural or frontier areas who are seeking primary care services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients residing in urban areas or those not engaged with primary care services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The PRaCTICe initiative aims to enhance clinical trials in rural and frontier communities by partnering with various networks and clinics. This project will engage local communities to co-design studies that address their specific health needs, ensuring that the research is relevant and beneficial. The approach includes four main components: community engagement, participant recruitment, data coordination, and effective communication. By leveraging existing partnerships and infrastructure, the initiative seeks to increase participation in primary care-based NIH studies and improve health outcomes in these underserved areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and tailored healthcare solutions for patients in rural and frontier communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous initiatives in rural health research have shown promise in improving patient outcomes through community engagement and tailored clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Melinda Marie — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Melinda Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Primary Care HEART-NET: boosting access to research in the Deep South
A collaboration across three universities will build primary care research networks in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to improve access to care and help prevent and manage chronic diseases.
-
Primary Care Bridge: Building Research in Diverse Geographic Settings
A national network hub in New Mexico will connect rural clinics and communities to faster, more usable primary care research so patients in underserved areas can benefit from new evidence.
-
WREN: Expanding Research Capacity in Rural Primary Care Clinics
A nationwide network in Wisconsin will strengthen rural primary care clinics to participate in real-world research and bring more clinical trials to communities.
-
Primary care research network in Oklahoma to boost rural patient trials
A nationwide NIH-supported effort to strengthen Oklahoma’s primary care research network so doctors can run big clinical trials and real‑world studies in rural communities.
-
PRaCTICe: A Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center
A nationwide network is creating easier, community-led clinical trials in rural and frontier areas to bring more trials to patients where they live.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.