The Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN): Expanding Research Capacity in Rural Primary Care Clinics

Abstract With nearly 40 years of experience, the Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN) is one of the oldest and most respected primary care practice-based research networks (PBRNs) in the US, having been founded in 1987. WREN has conducted hundreds of clinical trials in primary care practices, including pragmatic trials, implementation science studies, and community-engaged projects, among others. Given our extensive experience, deep expertise, and strong relationships with rural primary care clinics, WREN is well poised to serve as a Rural Network Research Hub. WREN is supported by the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) School of Medicine and Public Health CTSA (Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, ICTR) and is in the UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. WREN is in the Meta-network Learning and Research Center (Meta- LARC), a bi-national network of PBRNs. As a Rural Network Research Hub, WREN will partner with two rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (each with multiple clinics) serving Western and Northern Wisconsin, an independent practice serving Southwestern Wisconsin, and UW Health rural clinics. These clinics have successfully worked with WREN on a variety of projects. In year 2, we will expand our network to new rural clinics and re-engage with clinics we worked with previously. WREN will facilitate regular meetings of the Hub clinics in a learning collaborative to assess, select, and facilitate NIH study opportunities in their rural communities. We will develop infrastructure to support rural clinics in implementing research and build and sustain engagement with rural communities underrepresented in clinical research.