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Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research PCORI Funding Announcement -- Cycle 2 2026

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) intends to release a Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research (PLACER) PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA) on April 1, 2026, seeking to fund high-impact patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) projects. This preannouncement provides potential applicants additional time to identify collaborators; obtain patient and stakeholder input on potential studies; and develop responsive, high-quality applications.

PCORI seeks to fund patient-centered CER comparing two or more alternatives, each of which has robust evidence of efficacy and is in current use. If efficacy is not well established, then widespread use must be documented. PCORI is interested in research that aims to fill pertinent evidence gaps representing decisional dilemmas for patients, caregivers, clinicians, policymakers and other healthcare system stakeholders, with a goal of generating evidence that helps patients and members of the broader health and healthcare community make informed decisions about their health care and health outcomes. Clinical interventions (such as medications, diagnostic tests or procedures) and delivery system interventions (such as workforce, technologies or healthcare service delivery designs) are appropriate for these studies.

Research Initiative Highlights

To be considered responsive, applications must propose research that meets the distinctive requirements of this PFA.  Investigators must propose an individual-level or cluster-randomized controlled trial of significant size and scope. This funding announcement anticipates that proposed research projects will require two phases of funding. The initial phase of funding supports a distinct feasibility phase intended for infrastructure establishment; patient and stakeholder engagement; feasibility testing of study operations, including successfully recruiting, enrolling and randomizing participants; and study refinement where appropriate. Using the feasibility phase to establish evidence of an intervention’s efficacy or effect size is not permitted. Approval to proceed to the second phase will be contingent on achieving milestones and deliverables established for the feasibility phase.

Shared Trial Leadership: Data Coordinating Center 

Considering the scale, complexity and scope of trials being solicited under this PFA, PCORI requires that applications include shared trial leadership by a data coordinating center to provide an independent role in study leadership, advising on the analytical, statistical and data management aspects of both study phases. 

Key Dates

Online System Opens

April 1, 2026, 9 am (ET)

Applicant Town Hall

Apr. 8, 2026; 11:30 am - 12:30 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

$120 million

Budget

$22 million
-- Feasibility phase: $2 million
-- Full-scale study phase: $20 million

Maximum Project Period

6.5 years
-- Feasibility phase: 1.5 years
-- Full-scale study phase: five 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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