What we do:  The Pediatric Practice Research Group (PPRG) is well-established regional practice-based research network founded in 1984 as a partnership of the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Chicago and an enthusiastic group of 20 pediatric practices. It now includes over 70 Chicago-area community practices and health centers with leadership and operational support located at CMH.

The PPRG is a successful partnership between hospital-based academicians and community physicians. It offers a venue for research for both and also provides an opportunity for pediatric residents, pediatric fellows and medical or allied health students interested in designing and leading studies on primary care topics to gain valuable experience. The community physicians can continue their involvement in research after residency training, receive education for themselves and for staff members, or learn more about their practice. Project involvement may lead to changes in the way they provide care to their patients.  Practices generally participate in projects of interest. Topics best studied in a practice-based network are 1) interesting to practicing pediatricians, 2) commonly arise in pediatric care, or 3) involve normal growth and development.    

Our Mission:  The Pediatric Practice Research Group is dedicated to understanding and promoting optimal child health and function through practice-based research in the primary care setting. We value excellence and innovation in research through a network-based approach; gathering and sharing information from diverse practices in the Chicago area. Our goal is to utilize this cooperative research effort in order to improve and refine child health care through determining best practices, delivering ongoing clinical education to providers, and evaluating the outcomes of our efforts.