Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research building with sunrise in the background.

Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research

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Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) was established in 1995 as an essential part of the Palmer College mission to advance knowledge through research. PCCR is the most highly-funded chiropractic research center in the U.S.

Our research investigations are supported through funding from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense, Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as from private donors and foundations. Our researchers collaborate extensively with patients, clinicians, personnel, and investigators located physically and virtually in national and international settings to answer research questions of importance to both chiropractors and their patients.

For more than 25 years, faculty, staff, and administrators at PCCR have dedicated themselves to public health by developing knowledge and translating that knowledge to the practice of chiropractic health care.

Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research History

1997
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2002
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2007
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2010
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2017
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2019
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Researcher viewing a computer screen
Exterior of the William & Jo Harris Building, which houses the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research
chiropractic researcher performing a back adjustment
Chiropractor performing an adjustment
Chiropractor performing a lower back adjustment
Chiropractor performing an adjustment

Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research secured its first grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NIH awarded Palmer College a building grant, giving it the space, laboratories, and a dedicated research clinic needed to conduct high-level, relevant research, and accommodate requisite staff.

PCCR was awarded an NIH Research Education grant (R25AT003580) which provided 10 years of funding to train faculty in evidence-based clinical practice at Palmer’s three campuses. This grant was instrumental in providing the training and resources to incorporate evidence-based curricula at Palmer.

The Assessment of Chiropractic Treatment for Low Back Pain, Military Readiness, and Smoking Cessation in Military Active-Duty Personnel (ACT I, II, III) trials was a collaborative project between the RAND Corporation, the Samueli Institute, and PCCR. It was funded by the Department of Defense with $5.1 million granted to PCCR.

The Inter-Institutional Network for Chiropractic Research is a collaborative effort between the PCCR, Yale University Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, and the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine jointly based at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

PCCR is leading the NIH-funded $7 million, six-year study VERDICT (Veterans Response to Dosage in Chiropractic Therapy; UG3/UH3AT009761), in collaboration with the Yale University Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, the University of Iowa, and Duke University.

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PCCR Collaborations – Local and National

Projects are often a collective effort between scientists at the PCCR and collaborating investigators including physicians, chiropractors and scientists. During the past 10 years, the PCCR has collaborated with the following institutions.

Colleges and Universities Hospitals Department of Defense Veterans Health Administration
University of Iowa, Dartmouth College, Loyola University, Thomas Jefferson University, Yale University, Harvard University, Miami University, University of Kentucky, University of Pittsburgh Crotched Mountain Specialty Hospital and Genesis Health System Active military bases in California, Florida, Kentucky and Maryland Iowa City, Iowa; West Haven, Connecticut; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Los Angeles, California

 

Mission Statement

Chiropractic researcher talking to a patient, holding a spine model.

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research

Advancing knowledge to inform chiropractic practice, education and health policy.

Vision

Chiropractor's hands on patient's back.

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research

Moving the field of chiropractic forward through high-quality scientific research that positively impacts patient care.

Chiropractic researcher performing an ultrasound study on a patient.

Our Research

PCCR impacts health care practice and policy through robust and sustainable chiropractic research.

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Chiropractic research student at a microscope.

Research Honors Program

Students gain research experience and contribute to PCCR studies.

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Three researchers at a computer.

Research Team

Our dedicated researchers seek to advance public health by developing knowledge and translating that knowledge into practice.

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Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Toolkit

Resources to help you find the answers to your clinical questions.

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