Funding Opportunities Targeting Maternal Health, Hypertension Management, and More Open May 3

On May 3, PCORI opened its second funding cycle of the year and started accepting Letters of Intent for several PCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs), which include calls for:

• Research studies that compare health system strategies to address disparities in hypertension management and control
• Research studies that improve postpartum maternal outcomes among groups that are more often underserved or experience disparities in health outcomes
• Broad pragmatic studies that cover four priority areas; includes special areas of emphasis
• Studies that address high-priority methodological gaps in patient-centered outcomes research

Learn more about each of the new PFAs below.

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Targeted PFAs Addressing Disparities

Hypertension Management and Control

PCORI is issuing another Targeted PFA soliciting projects that seek to determine the comparative effectiveness of health system strategies to improve hypertension control for populations experiencing disparities in hypertension control and associated health outcomes.

High blood pressure is a condition that affects almost half of US adults—mostly non-Hispanic Black men and women—and is a major risk factor for heart attack, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and early mortality. People of color, patients without access to care or health insurance, and people who live in rural areas are most likely not to have their blood pressure under control. Several health systems factors may serve as barriers to controlling blood pressure and contribute to poor health outcomes for patients; however, several effective strategies have been identified.

Learn more about this PFA by registering for the May 16 Applicant Town Hall.

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: Up to $50 million
• Total direct costs: Up to $15 million
• Maximum project period: Up to five years

Postpartum Maternal Health

Did you know, 40 percent of maternal mortality in the United States happens in the first six weeks after a baby is born? Additionally, did you know, Alaska Native/American Indian, Black, Hispanic, rural, as well as low socioeconomic status mothers have experienced significant disparities in maternal outcomes?

PCORI is reissuing a Targeted PFA seeking studies aimed at determining the comparative effectiveness of interventions to improve early detection of, and timely care for, risk factors for postpartum complications, and for complications during the first six weeks postpartum for these underserved or underrepresented populations.

PCORI will hold an Applicant Town Hall on May 19 to provide interested researchers with more information about this funding opportunity.

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: Up to $50 million
• Total direct costs: Up to $5 million (small studies) or $15 million (large studies)
• Maximum project period: Up to five years

Letters of Intent for these PFAs are due June 1.

Standing PFAs Address Broad Research Areas and Improving Research Methods

Broad Pragmatic Studies

The Broad Pragmatic Studies PFA is a standing funding opportunity focused on the broad areas of patient-centered CER that PCORI has long supported. The special areas of emphasis for this PFA are:

• Addressing Racism, Discrimination, and Bias in Healthcare Systems and Care Delivery
• Aspirin to Prevent of Preeclampsia
• Caregiver-Delivered Interventions for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Optimizing Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: Category 1, $72 million; Category 2, $90 million
• Total direct costs: Category 1, up to $5 million; Category 2, greater than $5 million, up to $10 million
• Maximum project period: Up to five years

Improving Methods for Conducting Patient-Centered Outcomes Research

The second standing funding opportunity, Improving Methods, seeks to fund projects that address important methodological gaps and lead to improvements in the strength and quality of evidence generated by patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR)/CER studies. The Improving Methods PFA notes the following areas as programmatic priorities:

• Methods to Improve the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Clinical Research
• Methods to Improve Study Design
• Methods to Support Data Research Networks
• Methods Related to Ethical and Human Subjects Protections Issues in PCOR/CER

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: $12 million
• Total direct costs: $750,000
• Maximum project period: Up to three years

Letters of Intent for these PFAs are due June 1.

Implementation PFAs Seek Projects to Move Findings into Practice

PCORI will open three PFAs focused on implementing results from previous PCORI-funded studies into practice.

Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings

One PFA will center on implementing effective shared decision making approaches obtained from PCORI-funded studies into practice settings. More specifically, this initiative will support projects that propose approaches to implementing effective shared decision making strategies that address existing barriers and obstacles to uptake and maintenance, so that practices can integrate the interventions effectively.

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: See PFA for more details
• Total direct costs: Up to $1.5 million
• Maximum project period: Up to three years

Open Competition PFA: Implementation of Findings from PCORI’s Research Investments

An open competition PFA seeks to fund large-scale projects that promote the uptake of peer-reviewed findings from specific, high-priority PCORI-funded research topics. PCORI has identified four areas of focus under this PFA:

• Antibiotic use
• Obesity treatment
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Urinary incontinence

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: See PFA for more details
• Total direct costs: Up to $2.5 million
• Maximum project period: Up to three years

Limited Competition PCORI Funding Announcement: Implementation Awards

Lastly, a limited competition PFA aims to move evidence developed with PCORI research funding toward practical use in improving health care and health outcomes. Recipients of PCORI-funded research awards, including Broad and Targeted, Pilot Projects Program, and Pragmatic Clinical Study awards, as well as PCORI-funded demonstration projects occurring within PCORnet^®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, are eligible to respond to this PFA.

Funds and Project Period

• Funds available: See PFA for more details
• Total direct costs: Up to $1.5 million in total direct costs for standard implementation projects; up to $3 million in total direct costs for phased implementation projects; up to $300,000 in total costs for dissemination projects
• Maximum project period: Up to 36 months for standard implementation projects and dissemination projects; up to 66 months for phased implementation projects

Letters of Intent for these PFAs are due June 21.