Development of a multi-institutional clinical research consortium for pediatric surgery

Background: Multicenter clinical research studies in pediatric surgery have been largely limited to relatively small case-series and retrospective reviews because of the rarity of many of the diseases we treat and difficulty coordinating and executing multi-institutional studies. Creation of a collaborative research network can provide the needed patient population and infrastructure to perform high quality multi-institutional studies. Methods: In 2013, eleven academic pediatric surgery centers within the United States formed a research consortium to develop and conduct multicenter clinical research projects to advance the practice of pediatric surgery. Results: We present our process for creating, developing, and maintaining this consortium including initial regional geographic limitation, charter development with by-laws and procedures for adopting studies, and research infrastructure including a central website for study monitoring and central reliance institutional review board process. Conclusion: Our model could be reproduced or adapted by other institutions to develop or strengthen other research collaboratives. Level Of Evidence: Type of study: retrospective, IV.