Partner With Us

Many of our studies come through PPFA (Planned Parenthood Federation of America) through the Planned Parenthood Research Network (PPRN). The PPRN is a network of research departments at Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide. We often will work on the same studies, coordinated by PPFA, and we are able to meet and discuss study challenges and successes.

We also partner with sponsors such as pharmaceutical companies or academic organizations for conducting research at PPAZ.

Many sponsors work with us on sexual and reproductive health research studies because they know we are experts in the field.

Completed Studies 

University of California San Francisco/Advancing New Standards in Productive Health (UCSF/ANSIRH) Study 

January 2022 - June 2022

This study, hosted out of our Tempe and Glendale health centers, was done to evaluate a patient's ability to self-select for medical abortion. The data was shared with the UCSF/ANSIRH team for evaluation.

The Self-Selection for Medication Abortion study aims to measure how accurate abortions patients are at assessing their overall eligibility for medication abortion, including gestational age and other contraindications, compared to clinician assessment. This study is part of a group of studies Dr. Daniel Grossman and colleagues at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at University of California San Francisco are leading to create evidence and consensus in support of over-the-counter medication abortion.

The study enrolled patients seeking abortion in their first or second trimester before they were seen by a healthcare provider at the site (and before their ultrasound). Enrolled patients completed a 10-minute survey that asked questions about gestational age, contraindications for medication abortion, and basic demographic characteristics including age, race/ethnicity, abortion history, parity, and socioeconomic status (e.g., educational attainment; food and housing insecurity). Participants received a $5 electronic gift card by email for participating in the eligibility screening and an additional $25 electronic gift card for completing the survey. PPAZ research staff recruited 300 patients for the study at Tempe and Glendale sites from January- June 2022.

After completion of the survey, patients’ medical care proceeded as normal at the PPAZ health center, including assessment of gestational age and clinician assessment for other contraindications using evidence-based criteria. Then we collected data about the clinician assessment of eligibility for medication abortion to compare to the patient’s assessment. The ANSIRH team is currently analyzing the data to compare the patient surveys to the clinician assessments. Stay tuned for findings from this study from ANSIRH. https://www.ansirh.org/

Cepheid Study

October 2022 – May 2023

This study hosted out of our Central Phoenix health center, tested the efficacy of new devices for point of care testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.  Patients presenting for an exam were invited to participate in the study. After consenting, we collected urine, vaginal, endocervical, rectal, and pharyngeal specimens to test on the devices. Results became available in 30 minutes or less. The goal of this study was to gather enough data to determine the device’s ability to identify positive and negative results accurately. If successful, this data can then be presented to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for device approval.  Point of care testing for STIs has the power to decrease transmission rates, decrease the overprescription of antibiotics, increase testing rates, and ultimately create a healthier and safer community.