Rethinking Clinical Trials: A Living Textbook of Pragmatic Clinical Trials
Welcome to the Living Textbook of pragmatic clinical trials, a collection of knowledge from the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory. Pragmatic clinical trials present an opportunity to efficiently generate high-quality evidence to inform medical decision-making. However, these trials pose different challenges than traditional clinical trials. The Living Textbook reflects a collection of special considerations and best practices in the design, conduct, and reporting of pragmatic clinical trials.
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NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory?
What is a
pragmatic clinical trial?
Training Resources
Featured
Registration Open for Pragmatic Trials Workshop at 47th Annual SCT Meeting
On May 17, 2026, the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory will host a half-day workshop entitled "Innovations in Embedded Pragmatic Clinical Trials." It will take place ahead of the 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Clinical Trials and will introduce concepts in the design, conduct, and implementation of PCTs embedded in healthcare systems.
Don't Miss All-New Episodes of the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory Podcast
The NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory Podcast broadcasts engaging discussions on timely issues in the field of pragmatic clinical trials. Tune in monthly for fresh insights from Grand Rounds speakers, representatives from NIH Collaboratory Trials, and thought leaders within the NIH Collaboratory and broader research community.
Subscribe for free on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or SoundCloud.
NIH COLLABORATORY TRIALS
Pragmatic clinical trials that address questions of major public health importance and provide proof of concept for innovative pragmatic research designs.
CORES
Working groups that support the conduct of NIH Collaboratory Trials and generate guidance addressing implementation challenges.
DISTRIBUTED RESEARCH NETWORK
Network enabling investigators to collaborate in the use of electronic health data while safeguarding protected health information.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Grand Rounds May 29, 2026: Mobile Telemedicine for Treating Chronic Hepatitis C Among Rural People Who Inject Drugs: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Thomas J. Stopka, PhD, MHS)
May 29 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmGrand Rounds June 26, 2026: Precision Engagement to Improve Population Health (Phillip D. Levy, MD, MPH)
June 26 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
NEWS
- May 19, 2026: NIH Collaboratory Hosts 2026 Steering Committee Meeting; Califf and Weinfurt Share ReflectionsThe NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory held its 2026 Annual Steering Committee Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, on April 13 and 14. Program leaders discussed new methods and areas of focus for pragmatic ...
- May 13, 2026: Choosing the Right Outcomes for Randomized Trials, in This Week’s Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand RoundsIn this Friday’s Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds, Anup Katheria of the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns will present “The Importance of Choosing the Right Outcomes: How ...
- May 12, 2026: I CAN DO Surgical ACP Validation Study Shows Acceptability of Patient Portal Messages for Preoperative Advance Care PlanningIn a validation study for the I CAN DO Surgical ACP trial, researchers found that a single message delivered through the digital patient portal led to a meaningful increase in ...