The ARRA investment in CER: a description of the midstream evaluation and how the funds were allocated and CER priorities addressed

Aim: To describe the evaluation design of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 comparative effectiveness research (CER) investment, how funds were allocated and how CER priorities were addressed. Materials & methods: Primary and secondary data included information from redacted project proposals, an investigator survey and federal project officers, investigators and expert panel discussions. Results: More than 420 projects (US$1.1 billion) were awarded. Those generating new or synthesizing existing CER made up the plurality (194, or US$524 million). Data infrastructure projects were the second-largest area (28%, US$302 million). More than three-fourths addressed at least one priority population, condition category or intervention category. Conclusion: These investments expanded the nation's CER activities and its future capacity to conduct CER.