Network Overview
About PFDN
The Pelvic Floor Disorders Network conducts clinical research studies to learn more about how to help women with pelvic floor problems. PFDN members come from medical centers across the United States, along with a coordinating center and a project scientist from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The PFDN wants to learn more about how to help women with pelvic floor problems. Treatments are available, but many questions about how best to take care of women with pelvic floor problems are still unanswered. The PFDN was started to study pelvic floor problems and produce answers to these questions.
The PFDN Team is comprised of representatives from the sponsor, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; from seven clinical centers; and from one data coordinating center, RTI International. For more information about the PFDN Team, click here.
Clinical Centers
The clinical centers participating in the cooperative agreement with NICHD represent academic institutions with experience in multi-center clinical research in pelvic floor disorders. They have agreed to abide by the study protocols and have comparable staff, facilities, and equipment.
The Principal Investigator (PI) assumes leadership at each clinical center as well as responsibility for all aspects of the center's participation in the Network and participates (with the NICHD and Data Coordinating Center) as a member of the Steering Committee. Each PI is a practicing physician with substantial experience in caring for female pelvic floor disorders.
The Research Nurse Coordinator oversees the conduct of the Network clinical trials. Under the supervision of the PI, the Coordinator is responsible for the conduct of Network protocols, including adherence to protocols, collection of data, supervision of data transmission, data quality, and staff training.
Data Coordinating Center (DCC)
The primary objective of the Data Coordinating Center, RTI International, is to provide data management and biostatistical support and consultation in the areas of design, execution, and analysis for the Network studies. The DCC provides substantial logistical support for these studies and also assists in development of the study materials, including the protocols, study manuals and forms.