University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Gryzlak, Program Director at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, to talk about what it really takes to coordinate large multi-site epidemiological research. Brian directs Iowa’s participation in PCORnet, a national patient-centered clinical research network that standardizes healthcare data across institutions to support large-scale comparative effectiveness research. We discuss how data quality is maintained across dozens of sites, what it means to build trust across institutions, and why clear expectations are essential in complex research environments. Brian also reflects on his 20 year career in grant-funded research, sharing insights on leadership, infrastructure, and the importance of institutional knowledge. For students and early-career researchers, this episode offers practical advice on how to stand out in research roles, ask better questions, and contribute meaningfully to large collaborative studies. A transcript of this episode will be avail