Cancer Control and Population Sciences Home

Epidemiology and Genomics Research Home

Scientific Interests and Priorities

Centers for Education & Research on Therapeutics (CERTs)

• Web site: http://www.certs.hhs.gov

Description

The Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) demonstration program is a national initiative to conduct research and provide education that advances the optimal use of therapeutics (i.e., drugs, medical devices, and biological products). The program consists of 11 research centers and a Coordinating Center and is administered as a cooperative agreement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in consultation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The research conducted by the CERTs program has three major aims:

1. To increase awareness of both the uses and risks of new drugs and drug combinations, biological products, and devices, as well as of mechanisms to improve their safe and effective use.
2. To provide clinical information to patients and consumers; health care providers; pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers, and purchasers; health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and health care delivery systems; insurers; and government agencies.
3. To improve quality while reducing cost of care by increasing the appropriate use of drugs, biological products, and devices and by preventing their adverse effects and consequences of these effects.