PCORI Unveils Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research Funding Opportunities

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has announced four new funding opportunities for comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies.

"With these latest funding opportunities, PCORI proudly continues to fulfill its role as a leading funder of patient-centered, comparative clinical effectiveness research," Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH, PCORI's executive director, said in a public statement.

"The research funded through these opportunities will generate sound evidence to help patients, their clinicians, and caregivers understand their care options and become more empowered decision-makers across a range of health conditions," Cook added. "Projects funded through these opportunities also will generate data and strategies that advance PCORI's National Priorities for Health."

The largest funding announcement, the Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research (PLACER) PFA, seeks proposals for innovative, large trials on decisional dilemmas. The studies will begin with an initial feasibility and planning phase. PCORI offers up to $200 million through this PFA.

Submissions should support PCORI's National Priorities for Health. The organization also encourages alignment with topic themes approved by the PCORI Board of Governors, which reflect pressing health issues. Themes include reducing maternal morbidity and mortality and improving care for individuals with disabilities.

The second-largest funding announcement, the Broad Pragmatic Studies PFA, also seeks proposals for studies focused on PCORI's National Priorities for Health and approved topic themes.

Additionally, PCORI welcomes submissions in a new category within this standing funding opportunity that explicitly invites proposals for studies using PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network funded by PCORI. PCORI will offer up to $162 million through this PFA.

The first of two Targeted PFAs seeks proposals for CER studies that compare pharmacologic and/or evidence-based nonpharmacologic treatments for migraine prevention.

The second targeted PFA seeks research proposals on health system strategies to address hypertension management and control disparities. PCORI offers up to $90 million through these two PFAs.

In addition to funding research, PCORI supports initiatives to boost the uptake of CER evidence into practice to improve healthcare outcomes.  

Three implementation PFAs seek proposals for projects to support the uptake of PCORI-funded research results. An additional PFA seeks proposals for studies focused on strengthening and enhancing the science of engagement in health research.

"Guided by our National Priorities for Health, PCORI's latest funding opportunities build on the organization's success in funding research that provides patients and other healthcare decision-makers with the information they need to make better-informed choices among their healthcare options," said Harv Feldman, MD, MSCE, PCORI's deputy executive director for patient-centered research programs.

"These opportunities also reflect PCORI's commitment to continuously improving the quality of research methods, stakeholder engagement in research, and enabling the generation of sound evidence to be adopted into clinical practice where it benefits patients, clinicians, and health systems," Feldman concluded.