Advancing the Science of Engagement in Research PCORI Funding Announcement - Cycle 3 2026
Advancing the Science of Engagement in Research PCORI Funding Announcement - Cycle 3 2026 supports researchers testing measures and methods to strengthen patient and stakeholder partnerships in research.
Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Due Dates: September 9, 2026 (LOI, 5 pm ET) | January 12, 2027 (Invited application, 5 pm ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1 million in direct costs for two years (Category 1) or $1.5 million for three years (Category 2); up to approximately $36 million available
Summary: Supports research validating engagement measures and rigorously testing methods for meaningful stakeholder partnerships throughout the research lifecycle.
Key Information: Full applications require an accepted LOI and invitation from PCORI.
Description
PCORI’s Science of Engagement funding opportunity supports studies addressing high-priority gaps in meaningful partnerships with patients, caregivers and other healthcare stakeholders throughout research planning, conduct and dissemination. It seeks an actionable evidence base explaining which engagement approaches work, how they produce their effects, and how they should be adapted and resourced across contexts, settings and communities. The focus is partnership in research, not patient engagement in clinical care or self-care.
The program funds validation of measures capturing engagement structure, context, processes and outcomes, alongside rigorous testing of engagement methods. Measurement priorities include partner representativeness, engagement resources, barriers and facilitators, research efficiency and completion, patient-centeredness, and the importance of findings. Methods research examines effective approaches, engagement quality, adaptation across populations, and effects on research relevance, timeliness and trustworthiness.
