New Jersey Primary Care Research Network

History of the Network

Since 2001, the Department of Family Medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School has been developing and operating the NJPCRN a practice-based research network of nearly 120 primary care practices, more than 300 physicians and approximately 750,000 patients. Participating practices are located in all 21 NJ counties in a variety of urban, suburban and semi-rural settings.

The network was initially developed in partnership with the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians and the Departments of Family Medicine at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine and led by Benjamin Crabtree.

During the nearly 10-years since its establishment the network has served as the "laboratory' for a series of observational and intervention studies led by researchers from Family Medicine and other departments at RWJMS and NJMS as well as investigators from CINJ. These studies have brought more than $10 million in total research funding, led to numerous research presentations and publications, and have influenced primary care practice across the country.

In September 2012, Jeanne Ferrante, MD, MPH was named the new Director of NJPCRN. The Medical Director of NJPCRN is Elizabeth Clark, MD, MPH. The Network Manager is Gabrielle Davis, MSHS.

Current Research Initiatives

Randomized Control Trial of Controlled Breathing Effects on Ambulatory BP
PI: Lynn P. Clemow PhD
Funding Source: NIH/NHLBI
Recruitment Needs: Open to enrollment
Contact Information: Lynn Clemow, lc2193@columbia.edu or (212) 342-4484

Biofeedback:  Its Role in Asthma Therapeutics
PI: Paul Lehrer, PhD
Funding Source: NIH/NHLBI
Recruitment Needs: Open to enrollment
Contact Information: MilisyarisAviles Velez, avilesmi@umdnj.edu or (732) 235-3919

Reducing Health Disparities by Decreasing Weight Bias
PI: Jeanne Ferrante, MD, MPH
Funding Source: NCI
Recruitment Needs: Open to enrollment
Contact Information: Jeanne Ferrante, ferranjm@umdnj.edu or (732) 743-3386

Previous Research

Organizational Self-assessment to Improve Diabetes Care
PI: Jesse Crosson, PhD
Funding Source: NIDDK, 2008-2011

Using Learning Teams for Reflective Adaptation (ULTRA)
PI: Benjamin Crabtree, PhD
Funding Source: NHLBI, 2002-2007

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in Obese Women
PI: Jeanne Ferrante, MD, MPH
Funding Source: NIH/NCI, 2005-2009

Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD)
Healing Relationships Survey of Physicians
PI: Jesse Crosson, PhD
Funding Source: CDC/NIDDK, 2009-2010

The Role of EMR's in Communicating about Medication Management
PI: Deborah Cohen, PhD (Oregon Health and Science University)
Funding Source: NHLBI, 2009-2011

Supporting Colorectal Cancer Outcomes through Participatory Enhancements (SCOPE)
PI: Benjamin F. Crabtree, PhD
Funding Source: NIH/NCI, 2005-2012

Title VII – Academic Administrative Units in Primary Care
PI: Alfred Tallia, MD, MPH
Funding Source: HRSA, 2008-2012

Older Breast Cancer Survivors: How Health Beliefs Affect Their Decisions about Preventive Care and Treatment
PI: Marsha Rosenthal, MPA, PhD
Funding Source: CINJ-Pilot, 2010-2012