UNC Urology is proud to share that Dr. Andrew Krumm (University of Michigan) and Dr. Nnenaya Mmonu (NYU) have been awarded a $1 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to advance personalized patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures using machine learning.
Dr. Krumm and Dr. Mmonu lead a multidisciplinary team of experts from institutions across the country, including Wayne State University, the University of Michigan’s Center for Disability Health and Wellness (CODA), and UNC Urology’s Dr. Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, Associate Professor of Urology, Director of Urologic Oncology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Member.
This pioneering study seeks to improve how patients, particularly those undergoing radical prostatectomy, understand their long-term recovery through customized, predictive PRO reports.
Transforming Patient-Reported Outcomes with Machine Learning
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) play a crucial role in capturing patient perspectives on treatment effects, yet they often lack predictive insights – leaving patients wondering:
“For patients like me, what will my future functioning look like?”
This PCORI-funded project will address that gap by applying machine learning frameworks to PRO data, enabling more personalized, data-driven recovery insights for prostate cancer patients. The study will utilize the MUSIC registry, a vast dataset from over 40 urology practices, to build models that can be applied across diverse healthcare settings.
UNC Urology’s Role in Outdoor MUSIC and National Research Collaborations
UNC Urology’s involvement in this project is made possible through its participation in Outdoor MUSIC, an initiative that extends the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) beyond Michigan. UNC Urology was the first institution outside of Michigan to partner with MUSIC, helping to scale physician-led quality improvement efforts to a national level.
Dr. Tan, who has been instrumental in expanding UNC Urology’s role in collaborative research, emphasized the importance of partnerships like Outdoor MUSIC in driving innovation:
“Partnering in Outdoor MUSIC provides UNC Urology with an incredible opportunity to exchange ideas with a national leader in urologic quality and accelerate efforts to scale learning collaboratives to North Carolina and beyond. This PCORI-funded project will leverage ongoing work from Dr. Smith implementing electronic patient-reported outcomes at UNC, and it is a perfect example of how collaborative, patient-centered research can enhance care for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment.”
Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM
Director of Urologic Oncology
Urologic Oncology Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor of Urology
Looking Ahead
As the study progresses, UNC Urology remains committed to supporting high-impact research that enhances patient care and shared decision-making. The department looks forward to seeing how this work will shape the future of personalized medicine and improve recovery outcomes for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
For more details on the study, visit PCORI’s official announcement.