An array of PCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs) open for Letters of Intent (LOI) on Tuesday, May 4, including three targeted announcements seeking projects on areas of acute interest.
Two of them—related to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and maternal morbidity and mortality—were designated by Congress as priority areas for research in our 2019 reauthorizing legislation. The third PFA builds on PCORI’s focus on urinary incontinence, a condition that affects 30 percent of older women.
PCORI is offering up to $130 million in funding for these PFAs, all of which have an LOI deadline of June 1.
Comparative Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting Mental Health Conditions in Individuals with IDD
Between 7 and 8 million Americans live with IDD, and while many of them have co-occurring conditions, mental and behavioral health conditions are particularly common. Mental and behavioral health conditions among people with IDD often have a common set of symptoms and care needs, and PCORI stakeholders have identified more research comparing interventions for those with IDD and mental and behavioral health conditions as a priority.
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For this PFA, we seek projects that answer this research question: What is the comparative effectiveness of evidence-based approaches—for example, specific pharmacologic and behavioral interventions—that address mental health conditions in individuals with IDD? Proposals should compare pharmacological interventions, behavioral or other nonpharmacological interventions, and/or a combination of those types of interventions.
Projects can have maximum direct costs of $3 million and a maximum duration of three years. This PFA's applicant town hall is May 18.
Improving Postpartum Maternal Outcomes for Populations Experiencing Disparities
The United States ranks lowest among high-income countries in parameters for maternal health, and 40 percent of US maternal mortality occurs during the first six weeks following delivery. Compounding the problem, significant disparities for maternal outcomes exist among underserved populations.
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Although evidence-based treatments and care plans exist to combat severe maternal morbidity and mortality, postpartum care is typically limited, and there is evidence that important warning signs may be missed or dismissed by patients as well as clinicians and systems.
For this PFA, we seek projects that answer this research question: What is the comparative effectiveness of multicomponent 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 Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and rural women? We are particularly interested in the comparative effectiveness of tailored approaches to intervention strategies.
Projects can have maximum direct costs of $5 million (small studies) or $15 million (large studies) and a maximum duration of three years. This PFA's applicant town hall is May 13.
Nonsurgical Options for Women with Urinary Incontinence
Millions of American women have urinary incontinence, or UI. Worry about leaking urine, which becomes more common with age, can weaken a person’s confidence and interfere with daily activities.
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PCORI and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality supported a systematic review update on UI. Systematic reviews analyze published and unpublished results from all relevant studies on a given topic and identify, select, and summarize findings of available research to make clear what is known about a topic—and what is still not known.
While some women choose to have surgery for UI, the systematic review update showed there is good evidence to support the effectiveness of multiple nonsurgical interventions. But evidence gaps exist, particularly related to direct comparisons of the nonsurgical options and their possible side effects.
This PFA is the next step in PCORI’s interest in UI, and studies should further advance care options for this prevalent condition. Specifically, we seek comparisons of two or more nonsurgical treatment options for UI, including pharmacological, behavioral, lifestyle, and other nonpharmacological options.
Projects can have maximum direct costs of $5 million and a maximum duration of five years. This PFA's applicant town hall is May 10.
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More Topic-Specific Funding Opportunities on the Horizon
At its April 2021 meeting, the PCORI Board of Governors approved more than a dozen high-priority topics for development into funding announcements from late 2021 through 2022. Proposed funding announcements targeting specific topics and questions will be subject to input and subsequent approval from PCORI’s Board of Governors.
What's Happening at PCORI?
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute sends weekly emails about opportunities to apply for funding, newly funded research studies and engagement projects, results of our funded research, webinars, and other new information posted on our site.
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