J Am Board Fam Med
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Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are "experimental farms" for research that matters in clinical practice. One of the defining characteristics of PBRNs is their ability to operate across a wide range of the bidirectional "pipeline of research translation," from clinical trials to informing health care policy. ⋯ While the first decades of PBRN research generated a substantial body of evidence for improving individual practices (horizontal movement), PBRNs now find themselves at the multidimensional crossroads of patient-centeredness and community/population health (vertical movement). This practice-based research theme issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine provides a rich, cross-sectional synopsis of PBRN activities encompassing T2 translation, core practice-based research, implementation and dissemination research, community practice, and contributions to health care policy.