About the ICRN
The PSC Partners International Collaborative Research Network (ICRN), launched in 2022, was designed to transform PSC research by engaging patients as equal partners in the research process. The initiative was built on a foundation of collaboration, bringing together PSC experts (researchers and clinicians) and PSC community members (patients, relatives, and caregivers) to jointly shape research priorities, design actionable projects, and pursue solutions to the most pressing challenges in PSC and its closely associated diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).
In October 2024, PSC Partners convened over 60 global experts and PSC community members in Phoenix, AZ, for the second ICRN Scientific Convening. Working groups co-led by researchers and PSC patients, relatives, and caregivers generated innovative project ideas related to PSC Partners strategic research priority areas.
Each Working Group held a brainstorming session and a proposal development session, resulting in several innovative project proposals for patient-partnered research. After the Scientific Convening, PSC Partners committed $200,000 USD to fund one ICRN project, with funding distributed over two years starting in 2025. ICRN will continue to operate on a biennial cycle, with Scientific Convenings occurring every two years, and a resulting project being selected and launched in the alternating years.
ICRN Award Selection Process
To determine which project will receive the biennial ICRN Award of $200,000 over two years, PSC Partners conducts a two-stage review process:
- Community Priority Survey – A global survey collects feedback from PSC Partners community members, including patients, relatives, and caregivers.
- Independent Scientific Review – Top-ranked projects are then reviewed by independent scientific experts for feasibility, innovation, and likelihood of impact. These evaluations, alongside PSC Partners' strategic research goals, inform the final funding decision.
