Collaboration Guidelines

Many investigators have indicated an interest in collaborating with IRENE and are invited to determine what is appropriate. To be of interest to IRENE, your study must be relevant to primary care. If you are interested in writing a grant that includes IRENE, please follow these steps:

• Contact Barcey Levy, MD or Barry L. Carter, PharmD to discuss your research idea.
• At their direction, prepare eight copies of a 2-3 page description of your proposal that includes:  names of the principal investigator, co-investigators and their affiliation; proposed funding agency; submission due date; dates of the grant period; research purpose or questions; and a description of how the IRENE network would participate.
• Specify any needs you foresee for time commitments by IRENE support staff (recruitment, data collection, programming, analysis).  IRENE physician recruitment will be handled through the IRENE Research Office.
• Designate a portion of your budget to support IRENE efforts toward your project and IRENE office coordinators.
• Select a Department of Family Medicine faculty to be a co-investigator on the proposed study.
• The IRENE Research Development Committee will review the proposal.  You may be asked to meet with the committee.
• Authorship should be shared with appropriate IRENE investigators and IRENE should be acknowledged for any publications resulting from your research.

Examples of IRENE Projects

• Routine Screening for Depression in Rural Practice: Arthur Hartz, PhD, MD
  The purpose of this study was to test the value of routine screening for depressive symptoms.
• The Osteoporosis Detection Intervention Project:  Barcey Levy, PhD, MD
  The purpose of this study was to test whether osteoporosis testing rates were influenced by a patient education intervention or chart reminders.
• An Evaluation of the WISE QI Program: Paul James, MD                                        
  This study will test the effectiveness of a Wellmark supported multifaceted intervention program to improve the quality of care in rural practices to implement the chronic care model.