Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research PCORI Funding Announcement -- Cycle 1 2027
PCORI's Phased Large Awards fund major patient-centered comparative effectiveness trials in two phases to address key evidence gaps in healthcare decision making.
Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Due Dates: January 6, 2027 (LOI) | May 4, 2027 (Full Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2M (feasibility phase, 18 months) + up to $20M (full-scale phase, 5 years); total direct costs up to $22M per project.
Summary: Supports large, patient-centered comparative effectiveness trials to address critical evidence gaps in healthcare decision making.
Key Information: Requires both a feasibility phase and a full-scale trial phase; strong stakeholder and patient engagement is mandatory.
Description
This funding opportunity from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is designed to support large-scale, high-impact comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) that is explicitly patient-centered. The program funds research comparing two or more widely used interventions with robust evidence of efficacy, utilizing individual- or cluster-randomized controlled trial designs. Projects must address significant evidence gaps that create decisional dilemmas for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and policymakers, with the ultimate goal of generating actionable evidence to inform healthcare decisions.
The funding is structured in two phases:
- Feasibility Phase: Focuses on establishing infrastructure, engaging stakeholders, and testing study operations (e.g., recruitment, randomization). Approval to proceed to the full-scale phase is contingent on achieving predefined milestones.
- Full-Scale Phase: Launches the main comparative effectiveness trial, contingent upon successful completion of the feasibility phase.
Applicants must integrate experienced engagement leadership and include a data coordinating center for shared trial leadership, ensuring rigorous analytical and data management oversight.
