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Advancing the Science of Engagement in Research PCORI Funding Announcement -- Cycle 2 2026

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) intends to issue a PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA) on April 1, 2026, seeking to fund studies that build an evidence base on engagement in research, including:

Measures to capture structure or context, process and outcomes of engagement in research.
Techniques that lead to effective engagement in research.
How effective engagement techniques should be modified and resourced for different contexts, settings and communities.

This preannouncement provides potential applicants additional time to identify collaborators; obtain patient and stakeholder input on potential studies; and develop responsive, high-quality applications.

Applications focused on patient engagement in clinical or self care are not responsive to this PFA. This includes clinical shared decision-making interventions, interventions to increase patient engagement with recommended treatments or preventive measures or interventions to increase use of recommended interventions by populations. For example, a study to develop and/or test an intervention to increase patient persistence in the use of guideline-recommended medication is not responsive. This PFA is focused on engagement of partners in research, i.e., the lifecycle of planning, conducting and disseminating research projects.

Research Initiative Highlights

PCORI’s Science of Engagement in Research PFA will solicit applications that focus on:

Development and validation of measures to capture structure/context, process and outcomes of engagement, for both stakeholders and investigators, with direct costs up to $1 million and up to 24 months in duration. For additional information, please see the full announcement upon posting.
Development and/or testing of engagement methods to generate evidence on the most effective approaches for engagement in research and how effectiveness varies by context, with direct costs up to $1.5 million and up to 36 months in duration.

Applications focused on development and validation of measures are strongly encouraged to address one or more of the following concepts. Applications seeking to advance other related concepts should provide strong justification for such focus.

Engagement Context:

Research partner representativeness
Resources for engagement
Barriers and facilitators to engagement

Engagement Activities:

Planning and supporting engagement
Facilitating participation
Managing engagement
Level of engagement

Research Outcomes:

Research efficiency and successful study completion
Patient-centeredness of study
Importance of study findings

Key Dates

Online System Opens

April 1, 2026, 9 am (ET)

Applicant Town Hall

Apr. 10, 2026; 12 - 1 pm (ET)

View Event

Letter of Intent Deadline

April 28, 2026, 5 pm (ET)

Letter of Intent Status Notification

June 2, 2026, 5 pm (ET)

Application Deadline

Sept. 1, 2026, 5 pm (ET)

Merit Review

November 2026

Awards Announced

April 2027 (Subject to Change)

Earliest Start Date

August 2027

Funds and Project Period

Funds Available Up To

See PFA for more details

Budget

Rapid Measurement Studies
-- Up to $1 million
Development and Testing of Engagement Approaches
-- Up to $1.5 million

Maximum Project Period

Rapid Measurement Studies
-- Up to 24 months (two years)
Development and Testing of Engagement Approaches
-- Up to 36 months (three years)

AI based application success predictor

🧠 1. Clear Patient-Centered Focus

PCORI emphasizes questions and outcomes that matter to patients and caregivers — such as symptom relief, quality of life, care experience, and decision making — rather than exclusively surrogate or laboratory endpoints. PCORI
Tip: Define research questions in terms of patient priorities, not just scientific interest.

🤝 2. Engagement of Patients & Stakeholders

A hallmark of PCORI’s Merit Review is explicit requirements for meaningful involvement of patients, caregivers and other stakeholders during proposal development, design and execution. Engagement is a distinct criterion reviewers consider alongside scientific merit. ScienceDirect
Tip: Build stakeholder engagement plans that demonstrate how patients/communities will influence key decisions (choice of comparators, outcomes, recruitment strategies).

🔍 3. Comparative Effectiveness Design

PCORI requires that studies compare two or more care options relevant to real healthcare decisions — this is central to eligibility. PCORI
Tip: Ensure the comparison (e.g., two treatments, delivery strategies, screening options) reflects real choices patients/clinicians face.

📊 4. Methodological Rigor & Feasibility

Competitive proposals have robust study designs, clear definitions of outcomes and analyses that support valid comparisons, with realistic timelines and scalable recruitment plans. PCORI
Tip: Develop rigorous plans tailored to CER, including statistical methods and pragmatic implementation plans.

📅 5. Alignment With Specific PFA Priorities

Each PFA has defined scope and priorities (e.g., methods for engagement; implementation in health systems). Applications must match the language and goals of the specific funding announcement. PCORI
Tip: Tailor aims to the exact PFA requirements rather than submitting generic CER designs.

📣 6. Dissemination & Uptake Planning

Projects that include clear dissemination and implementation plans — describing how results will be shared with patients, clinicians, health systems, or policymakers — score stronger on relevance and impact. PCORI
Tip: Include strategies for uptake, such as integration into clinical guidelines, digital tools, or decision aids.

📑 7. Organizational Capacity & Collaboration

Because PCORI awards are often larger and multi-site, reviewers value organizational experience in complex CER, including data systems, partnerships with clinical sites or community networks, and multidisciplinary teams. PCORI
Tip: Demonstrate infrastructure for recruitment, data management, and stakeholder engagement.

📌 Practical Application Tips

✔ Start early & follow cycles: PCORI issues repeated funding opportunity cycles (e.g., spring, fall). PCORI
✔ Use PCORI resources: Attend webinars and use application guides and templates provided on the PCORI website. PCORI
✔ Engage stakeholders early: Integrate patient partners before LOI submission to shape the research question. ScienceDirect
✔ Monitor announcements: Subscribe to PCORI emails for updates on new PFAs and registry of funded projects. PCORI

🧠 Summary: PCORI Competitive Funding

Success Predictor	Why It Matters
Patient-Centered Focus	Core mission of PCORI; shapes review. PCORI
Stakeholder Engagement	Engagement is a standalone review criterion. ScienceDirect
Comparative Design	Must compare options relevant to patients. PCORI
Methodological Quality	Ensures credible, useful conclusions. PCORI
Alignment With PFA Scope	Match to solicitation goals. PCORI
Dissemination & Implementation Plan	Enhances real-world impact. PCORI
Organizational Capacity	Supports execution of complex CER.

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations, not individuals: Eligible applicants include universities, hospitals, research institutes, healthcare systems, nonprofit community groups and similar entities. Individuals may NOT directly apply. PCORI

PCORI requires applicants to use its online submission system (PCORI Online) for Letters of Intent (LOIs) and full applications and to meet published deadlines.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1333 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 827-7700 | Fax: (202) 355-9558

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