Improving Methods for Conducting Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research
PCORI funds research developing innovative methods to improve patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and methodological advancement in clinical research.
Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2026 (Letter of Intent) | September 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $750,000 direct costs per project (max 3 years); total funding up to ~$12 million per cycle
Summary: Supports research to advance methods for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research, emphasizing methodological innovation and stakeholder engagement.
Key Information: Individuals may not apply; strong patient/stakeholder engagement is required; projects must address one or more specified methodological priority areas.
Description
This funding opportunity from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is designed to advance the methodologies underpinning patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). The program specifically targets critical gaps in current CER methods, with the goal of improving the rigor, relevance, and patient-centeredness of future research. Projects must focus on developing or testing innovative methodological approaches, rather than infrastructure development or disease-specific predictive models. Engagement with patients and other stakeholders is a core requirement throughout the research process, in alignment with PCORI’s Foundational Expectations for Partnerships in Research.
Priority areas include methods related to ethical and human subjects protections, improvements in study design, support for data research networks, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in clinical research. All funded projects must comply with PCORI Methodology Standards and policies for data sharing and public reporting.
