Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research PCORI Funding Announcement -- Cycle 2 2026
Supports large, patient-centered randomized trials comparing established healthcare interventions to address critical evidence gaps, with two-phase research and robust stakeholder engagement.
Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Due Dates: April 28, 2026 (Letter of Intent, 5 pm ET) | September 1, 2026 (Full Application, 5 pm ET)
Funding Amounts: Up to $22 million total direct costs (Feasibility phase: up to $2M; Full-scale study: up to $20M); max project period: 6.5 years (1.5-year feasibility + 5-year full-scale)
Summary: Supports large, patient-centered randomized comparative effectiveness trials in two phases, requiring robust stakeholder engagement and shared data leadership, to address critical evidence gaps in healthcare decisions.
Key Information: No application deferral for this cycle; invited LOIs must submit full applications by the deadline.
Description
This funding opportunity supports high-impact, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) projects that address critical decisions faced by patients, caregivers, clinicians, and the broader healthcare community where current evidence is insufficient. Applicants must propose large-scale, individual-level or cluster randomized controlled trials comparing interventions already in use with established efficacy or widespread adoption. The research must proceed in two phases: an initial feasibility phase (for study refinement, infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, and operational testing), followed by a full-scale trial phase contingent on successful completion of feasibility milestones. All proposals require meaningful patient and stakeholder engagement throughout, as well as shared leadership with a data coordinating center (DCC). Research topics should align with PCORI’s evolving Research Project Agenda Topic Themes or address other significant needs in patient-centered CER.
