Delivering on its commitment to develop an extensive pipeline of funding opportunities made earlier this year, PCORI opens its third funding cycle on September 7. The funding cycle includes nine PCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs) on broad and targeted research, clinical trials, methodology studies, and implementation projects.

Research PFAs

Five Broad research and methods funding opportunities are part of this current cycle.

First, the Broad PFAs seek investigator-initiated applications for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) aligned with PCORI research priorities: addressing disparities; assessment of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options; communication and dissemination research; and improving health systems.

New for cycle 3 2021, PCORI identified two special areas of emphasis within the Broad PFA: telehealth for chronic disease management among vulnerable populations and addressing racism, discrimination, and bias in healthcare systems and care delivery.

Secondly, with the Improving Methods PFA, PCORI aims to fund studies that address high-priority methodological gaps in patient-centered outcomes research and CER. PCORI identified several areas as programmatic priorities, including methods to improve the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in clinical research, enhance study design, and support data research networks.

Letters of Intent for these research funding opportunities are due October 5 at 5 pm (ET).

Image

Targeted Research PFAs

Next, a set of Targeted PFAs seeks high-quality CER projects on three specific topics of interest.

Healthy aging—Projects submitted should focus on optimizing physical and mental functioning for community-dwelling older adults and their caregivers across the aging continuum. The research should aim to achieve one or more of the following goals:

• Maintaining function and independence
• Facilitating chronic disease management
• Supporting individuals with significant functional impairment  
• Reducing caregiving burden and improving quality of life

Osteoporotic fractures—These research projects should focus on multimodal interventions to prevent fractures in postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis and a history of a fracture. Proposed studies should compare the effectiveness of pharmacological and/or nonpharmacological combination interventions. Underrepresented groups, including men and women in racial/ethnic groups other than White, are of particular interest. 

Migraine prevention—PCORI is seeking to fund rigorous, large-scale pragmatic trials that compare newly available pharmacologic and/or evidence-based nonpharmacologic treatments for the prevention of migraine. Studies that compare emerging pharmacological options such as calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists to standard prophylactic therapy or to each other are of particular interest.

Letters of Intent for targeted research funding opportunities are due October 5 at 5 pm (ET).

Phased Large Clinical Trials

PCORI is accepting Letters of Intent for a research initiative to fund large, innovative clinical trials in CER. Trials funded through this initiative—Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research, or PLACER—pursue research questions focused on patient-centered outcomes on high-burden, high-impact health topics in real-world clinical settings that reflect how most American health care is delivered.

To be scientifically and fiscally responsible in balancing the potential for higher risk as well as high reward within these clinical trials, PLACER uses a phased funding approach: an initial planning phase tests trial feasibility and the capacity of study designs to achieve its intended aims as planned. If careful review of the planning phase accomplishments indicates likely success of the full-scale trial, continued study conduct and funding proceed.

Letters of Intent for the PLACER PFA are due October 5 at 5 pm (ET).

Implementation PFAs

PCORI will open three PFAs focused on implementing findings from previous PCORI-funded studies in the cycle, as well. The first Implementation 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 identifies four areas of focus under this PFA: obesity treatment, urinary incontinence, posttraumatic stress disorder, and antibiotic use. 

The second Implementation PFA centers on effective shared decision making obtained from PCORI-funded studies in practice settings. This initiative will support projects that propose active, multi-component 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. 

Finally, a limited competition Implementation 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.

Letters of Intent for all Implementation PFAs are due September 28 at 5 pm (ET).