Greater Plains Collaborative (GPC)
The Greater Plains Collaborative (GPC) is a clinical research network designed to
improve healthcare outcomes through collaborative, patient-centered research.
The initiative spans 10 states and serves a population of over 38 million patients
across the United States. GPC focuses on advancing healthcare by providing
research infrastructure, support, and resources to investigators, clinicians, and
institutions.
GPC’s mission is to drive impactful clinical research and enhance healthcare
delivery through a network of health systems and academic institutions. It
supports the use of electronic health data, enabling real-world research that
improves care quality, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. By participating in
collaborative research projects, the network aims to ensure that healthcare
improvements are based on evidence-based practices and are directly relevant to
patients’ needs.
Key Features and Services
1. Access to Data: GPC offers researchers access to a large and diverse set of
electronic health records (EHR) and clinical data from its partner
institutions. This access supports studies focused on real-world healthcare
settings, making research findings more applicable and actionable.
2. Research Support: GPC assists investigators at every stage of the research
process. This includes feasibility studies, proposal development, grant
support, and patient recruitment for clinical trials. It provides tools to
navigate the complexities of clinical research and regulatory processes.
3. Collaboration and Networking: As part of the PCORnet (Patient-Centered
Outcomes Research Network), GPC facilitates collaboration among various
healthcare systems, researchers, and stakeholders. This fosters a multi-
disciplinary approach to clinical research and enhances the translation of
research findings into practice.
4. Patient Engagement: GPC emphasizes the importance of involving patients
in the research process. The network works to ensure that patient
perspectives and experiences inform clinical trials and research outcomes,
aligning with the goal of improving healthcare that is directly relevant to the
patients it serves.
5. Resources for Researchers: GPC provides a wide range of tools, including
data analytics capabilities, to assist researchers in designing and conducting
studies. This includes access to health data, regulatory support, and
consultation for the development of clinical trial protocols.
GPC is part of the national PCORnet initiative, which is funded by the Patient-
