debate about the next steps in the context of the microcomputer's development. Among them was a small group convened by Gene Farley in Denver in 1978 to consider establishing a national sentinel practice system. It was this idea that lead to the Ambulatory Sentinel Practice Network and provided in retrospect what appears to have been a nidus for the establishment of primary care PBRNs in the United States. In the 1980s, pediatric research networks - the Pediatric Practice Research Group (PPRG) in metropolitan Chicago and the national Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) network of the American Academy of Pediatrics - emerged as well. PBRNs are feasible and that represent a useful infrastructure for the scientific discovery of family practice and primary care. Experience to date points out the great advantages enjoyed by those with enduring, core financial support—such as the Dutch with their early national commitment to primary care and their willingness to invest in primary care research. It is also obvious that these networks require collaboration, cooperation and a spirit of sharing and trust. These networks are now at once both a place and a concept. As a place, they are a laboratory for surveillance and research. As a concept, they express the still unmet need for practicing primary care clinicians to accept responsibility to improve frontline clinical care by understanding what is happening in their practices. Successes to date have been sufficient to incite the Institute of Medicine's 1994 committee studying the future of primary care to recommend support to stabilize and expand practice-based primary care research networks. Currently active AAFP NRN – AAFP National Research Network Kansas AANPNR – American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Network for Research Texas ACCESSPBRN – ACCESSPBRN Illinois ACCP PBRN – American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network Kansas ACERN – Ambulatory Care Evaluation and Research Network New York ACORN – Virginia Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network Virginia ACPNet – ACPNet Pennsylvania APBRN – Alabama Practice Based Research Network Alabama A-PBRN - Ayurveda Practice Based Research Network United Kingdom APN-ARC – Advanced Practice Nurse-Ambulatory Research Consortium Ohio APPD LEARN – Association of Pediatric Program Directors Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network Virginia ARCHNAP St. Louis Ambulatory Care Research Consortium for Nurses in Advanced Practice Missouri AT-PBRN – Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network Arizona ATSU SOMA PBRN – A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona PBRN Arizona AppNET – The Appalachian