Better Tools for Multi-site Research

Collaboration is a vital part of the research enterprise.  Groups may form research partnerships based on shared interest in a particular topic, or to ensure the right mix of scientific disciplines to address a complex problem, or because they share organizational characteristics.  Regardless, creating and sustaining research networks is not easy work. The PRIMER project was established in 2008 to create an online library of resources to facilitate multi-site collaborations for health research. Quite often, these collaborations involve community-based organizations, academic institutions, or health care delivery settings.

We’ve organized this web site around five typical phases of multi-site research from formation to close-out.  In each of these sections, you’ll find resources and tools that have been used in other research networks. They are offered here so that you don’t have to start from scratch.  Educational resources that span different aspects of the research process can also be found in the Training section. Within each section of the web site, tools are listed in order of our reviewers' overall sense of usefulness and adaptability - but individual needs will vary, so we encourage you fully explore each section as you browse. You’ll also find a brief description of the resource or tool, and an acknowledgement of the original source.