Collaborating with Primary Care Through NP3
Researchers interested in partnering with Northwestern Medicine primary care practices, clinicians, or community partners are encouraged to engage with NP3 early in the project development process.
NP3 and the Primary Care Executive Committee Research & Education (PCEC R&E) Subcommittee help support research that is feasible, meaningful, and aligned with the priorities of primary care practices and the communities they serve.
Most requests are reviewed within approximately 4–6 weeks depending on project scope and committee timing.
Who Should Submit?
NP3 supports a wide range of projects involving primary care practices, clinicians, and community partnerships.
- Researchers seeking collaboration with primary care practices
- Community-engaged research teams
- Implementation science projects
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Studies involving clinician or practice engagement
- Dissemination efforts within primary care settings
Before Submitting a Request
Researchers are encouraged to consider the following before submitting a request through NP3:
- Project feasibility within clinical settings
- Whether a primary care clinician or General Internal Medicine champion has been identified to support implementation and practice engagement
- Potential clinician and staff burden
- Workflow implications for practices
- Recruitment strategies and patient engagement
- Community engagement opportunities
- Dissemination and implementation planning
Early consideration of these factors helps support efficient review and meaningful collaboration with primary care practices and community partners.
How the Review Process Works
Step 1 — Submit an Intake Form
Researchers complete the NP3 intake form to describe their project, proposed activities, and requested support.
Ready to get started?
Submit the NP3 Intake Form
The intake form takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
Step 2 — Initial Consultation
The NP3 team meets with investigators to discuss project goals, feasibility considerations, workflow implications, and opportunities for collaboration.
Step 3 — PCEC R&E Review
The Primary Care Executive Committee Research & Education (PCEC R&E) Subcommittee reviews requests to assess:
- Relevance to primary care
- Feasibility within clinical settings
- Alignment with Northwestern Medicine priorities
- Opportunities for clinician and community engagement
Step 4 — Feedback & Next Steps
Investigators receive written feedback and recommendations, which may include approval to move forward, suggested revisions, connections to collaborators, implementation guidance, or additional consultation recommendations.
Review Criteria
- Relevance to primary care
- Feasibility within clinical workflows
- Impact on clinicians and patients
- Alignment with Northwestern Medicine priorities
- Community engagement opportunities
- Dissemination and implementation considerations
- Operational burden on practices
Timeline Expectations
Most requests are reviewed within approximately 4–6 weeks depending on project complexity, committee meeting schedules, and additional consultation needs.
Researchers are encouraged to engage with NP3 as early as possible, particularly for grant submissions, implementation planning, or studies involving primary care practice engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need IRB approval before submitting?
No. Investigators are encouraged to engage with NP3 early during project planning and proposal development.
Can community organizations collaborate with NP3?
Yes. NP3 supports community-engaged and community-academic partnerships.
What types of studies are appropriate?
Projects involving primary care practices, implementation efforts, dissemination activities, clinician engagement, or community partnerships are encouraged to submit a request.
What happens after review?
Investigators receive written feedback and recommendations regarding next steps, revisions, feasibility considerations, and potential partnership opportunities.
Examples of Research Collaboration
Examples of projects supported through NP3 and primary care partnerships include:
- Hypertension management initiatives
- Diabetes care implementation projects
- Behavioral health integration
- Clinician engagement studies
- Community-engaged research partnerships
- Dissemination and implementation initiatives
Contact NP3
For questions regarding research collaboration or the intake process, please contact:
Esther Tharakaturi
NP3 Program Administrator
esther-tharakaturi@northwestern.edu