The HCRN

PROVEN MODEL: Our network is based on proven organizational models of multi-center collaborative research.

Two models we studied are the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the Autism Treatment Network (ATN). The COG, comprised of over 200 member institutions, has, in the last 40 years, worked to improve the survival rates of childhood cancer from less than 10% to over 77%. And ATN is setting the gold standard for diagnosis, treatment, and care of autistic people in North America. We consulted with the leadership of both groups and adopted the best practices for supporting high-quality clinical studies.

HCRN Centers

Hospital	University	Role	Joined
	University of Utah	Data Coordinating Center	2006
Primary Children’s Hospital	University of Utah	Coordinating and Participating Center	2006
Sick Kids	University of Toronto	Participating Center	2006
Children’s of Alabama	University of Alabama	Participating Center	2006
Texas Children’s Hospital	Baylor School of Medicine	Participating Center	2007
Seattle Children’s Hospital	University of Washington	Participating Center	2009
St. Louis Children’s Hospital	Washington Universtity	Participating Center	2010
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC	University of Pittsburgh	Participating Center	2010
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital	Vanderbilt University	Partipcating Center	2013
BC Children’s Hospital	University of British Columbia	Participating Center	2013
Alberta Children’s Hospital	University of Calgary	Participating Center	2016
Children’s Hospital Colorado	University of Colorado	Participating Center	2016
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles	University of Southern California	Participating Center	2016
Johns Hopkins Hospital	Johns Hopkins University	Participating Center	2016
Nationwide Children’s Hospital	Ohio State University	Participating Center	2016

Our model overcomes the obstacles of previous efforts to study the condition. The pilot HCRN organization will consist of a central data coordinating center, and four research centers at high-patient-volume pediatric hospitals in North America. Principal investigators at member institutions will each lead an important study that will hopefully yield results for improving hydrocephalus treatment. All centers will enroll eligible patients in all appropriate studies concurrently. Our model makes sure the studies are both adequately powered by sufficient sample sizes and appropriately staffed, while also ensuring data is collected quickly and professionally.