Skip to main content
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • Blog
  • Newsroom
  • Find It Fast
  • Help Center
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

PCORI

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Search form

  • About Us
    Close mega-menu

    About Us

    • Our Programs
    • Governance
    • Financials and Reports
    • Procurement Opportunities
    • Our Staff
    • Our Vision & Mission
    • Contact Us

    Fact Sheets: Learn More About PCORI

    Download fact sheets about out work, the research we fund, and our programs and initiatives.

    Find It Fast

    Browse through an alphabetical list of frequently accessed and searched terms for information and resources.

    Subscribe to PCORI Email Alerts

    Sign up for weekly emails to stay current on the latest results of our funded projects, and more.

  • Research & Results
    Close mega-menu

    Research & Results

    • Explore Our Portfolio
    • Research Fundamentals
    • Research Results Highlights
    • Putting Evidence to Work
    • Peer Review
    • Evidence Synthesis
    • About Our Research

    Evidence Updates from PCORI-Funded Studies

    These updates capture highlights of findings from systematic reviews and our funded research studies.

    Journal Articles About Our Funded Research

    Browse through a collection of journal publications that provides insights into PCORI-funded work.

    Explore Our Portfolio of Funded Projects

    Find out about projects based on the health conditions they focus on, the state they are in, and if they have results.

  • Topics
    Close mega-menu

    Topics

    • Addressing Disparities
    • Arthritis
    • Asthma
    • Cancer
    • Cardiovascular Disease
    • Children's Health
    • Community Health Workers
    • COVID-19
    • Dementia and Cognitive Impairment
    • Diabetes
    • Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
    • Kidney Disease
    • Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
    • Medicaid
    • Men's Health
    • Mental and Behavioral Health
    • Minority Mental Health
    • Multiple Chronic Conditions
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Obesity
    • Older Adults' Health
    • Pain Care and Opioids
    • Rare Diseases
    • Rural Health
    • Shared Decision Making
    • Telehealth
    • Transitional Care
    • Veterans Health
    • Women's Health

    Featured Topic: Women's Health

    Learn more about the projects we support on conditions that specifically or more often affect women.

  • Engagement
    Close mega-menu

    Engagement

    • The Value of Engagement
    • Engagement in Health Research Literature Explorer
    • Influencing the Culture of Research
    • Engagement Awards
    • Engagement Resources
    • Engage with Us

    Engagement Tools and Resources for Research

    This searchable peer-to-peer repository includes resources that can inform future work in patient-centered outcomes research.

    Engagement Awards

    Learn about our Engagement Awards program and view the announcements of all our open funding opportunities.

    Research Fundamentals: A New On-Demand Training

    It enables those new to health research or patient-centered research to learn more about the research process.

  • Funding Opportunities
    Close mega-menu

    Funding Opportunities

    • What & Who We Fund
    • What You Need to Know to Apply
    • Applicant Training
    • Merit Review
    • Awardee Resources
    • Help Center

    PCORI Funding Opportunities

    View and learn about the newly opened funding announcements and the upcoming PFAs in 2021.

    Tips for Submitting a Responsive LOI

    Find out what PCORI looks for in a letter of intent (LOI) along with other helpful tips.

    PCORI Awardee Resources

    These resources can help awardees in complying with the terms and conditions of their contract.

  • Meetings & Events
    Close mega-menu

    Meetings & Events

    • Upcoming
    • Past Events

    PCORI 2021 and Beyond

    During this webinar, PCORI leaders shared ways to get involved in PCOR, improvements to our funding opportunities, and more.

    2020 PCORI Annual Meeting

    Watch recordings of sessions and view titles and descriptions of posters presented at the virtual meeting.

    PCORI Board of Governors Meeting: April 13, 1:00pm ET

    Tune in as the Board discusses possible topics in the development of upcoming PCORI Funding Announcements, among other business. Register now.

You are here

  • Funding Opportunities
  • Engagement Award Special Cycle: Build...

Engagement Award Special Cycle: Building Capacity for PCOR/CER for Topics Related to COVID-19

Full proposals will be due May 24, 2021, by 5 p.m. (ET)

-

Submit an Application

Table of Contents

  1. General Requirements
  2. Special Cycle: COVID-19
  3. Project Evaluation
  4. Review Process
  5. How To Apply
  6. Applicant Resources
  7. Questions?

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) plans to award up to $25 million in fiscal year 2021 as part of the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards. These awards are for research support projects. This program does not fund research studies.  

The Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards support projects that encourage active, meaningful involvement of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders as integral members of the patient-centered outcomes research/comparative clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER) enterprise.

This Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards Special Cycle Funding Announcement—Building Capacity for PCOR/CER for Topics Related to COVID-19 is a research support – not research—special funding opportunity for projects up to 18 months in duration and up to $200,000 in total costs. The length of the project period and budget amount must be justified by the level of activity that will occur during the project and all projects must be at least 12 months in duration.

This special funding opportunity will support projects that enable organizations and communities to build their capacity and skills to participate across all phases of the PCOR/CER process on topics that address health outcomes related to COVID-19. Projects will also provide an understanding of the impact of stakeholder engagement strategies within different settings and stakeholder groups focused on this special area of interest.

In the context of the Engagement Awards program, capacity building to support research refers to the following types of projects:

  • Projects that focus on building the knowledge, competencies, and abilities of patients and other stakeholders to be meaningful partners in PCOR/CER with researchers throughout the research process, from topic selection through design and conduct of research to dissemination or implementation of results.
  • Projects that strengthen the skills of researchers to be better partners with patients and other stakeholders involved in PCOR/CER.
  • Projects that support the expansion of use or adoption of existing engagement tools and resources to build capacity for PCOR/CER in a new population or geographic area.

This is an opportunity to explore and address the urgent and unique needs to build capacity for stakeholder engagement in PCOR/CER specifically related to:

  • Long-term effects of post-acute COVID-19;
  • Impact of COVID-19 on disproportionately affected populations;
  • Impact of COVID-19 on social isolation and loneliness (mental health and well-being); and
  • Engaging, educating, and promoting informed decision making around COVID-19 vaccines.

Other relevant topics related to COVID-19 health outcomes with appropriate justification will also be considered.

Key Information for the Engagement Awards Special Cycle 2021:

  • Applicants should consider alternative plans for any convening activities within the project, should an in-person meeting not be feasible. Please consult PCORI’s Applicant and Awardee FAQs Related to COVID-19 to ensure your proposed project adheres to PCORI’s guidance related to applicant pre-award concerns.
  • PCORI is aware that there is an evolving context around the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to working with awardees to adapt projects and processes to the evolving context during this time so that deliverables are implemented fully as per the executed contract.
Key Information
Status 
Open
Cycle 
Special Cycle: May 2021
Full Announcement 
PDF icon EA Special Cycle: COVID-19 (PFA)
Online System Opens 
March 1, 2021
Application Deadline
May 24, 2021, by 5 p.m. (ET)
Applicant Town Hall Session 

Applicant Webinar; March 2, 2021 (Pre-recorded)

Earliest Start Date 
September 2021
Total Costs 
Award total costs may not exceed $200,000 (Direct + Indirect Costs)
Maximum Project Period 
18 Months
Announcement Type 
Research Support Award

-

Research Fundamentals: Preparing You to Successfully Contribute to Research (A free on-demand training package on PCORI.org)

I. General Requirements for Engagement Awards

This section includes language that is specific to PCORI’s requirements for programmatic responsiveness under this funding announcement. Applicants should use this section as guidance when preparing their full proposals. For information related to administrative and technical requirements for application submission, please consult the Engagement Award Submission Instructions for Special Cycle 2021.

Engagement Award Priorities

The Engagement Award program supports PCORI’s Engagement Imperative—defined in our Strategic Plan—and provides a platform to increase engagement in research, that is, the meaningful involvement of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders throughout the research process. We expect projects selected for an Engagement Award to result in tools and resources that may be useful to other awardees for increasing patient and/or other stakeholder engagement in PCOR/CER, PCORI, and the broader PCOR community. We are committed to using and broadly sharing this information. Please see the PCORI Engagement Tool and Resource Repository for examples of what this can look like.

Categories of Nonresponsiveness

Applications will be considered nonresponsive for an Engagement Award if they propose:

  • Projects solely intended to increase patient engagement in health care or healthcare systems rather than healthcare research
  • Projects to design or test healthcare interventions
  • Activities that involve the use of a drug or medical device
  • Development of clinical practice guidelines, care protocols, or decision support tools
  • Development of coverage, payment, or policy recommendations or guidelines
  • Projects related to quality measures, quality improvement, or engagement around quality measures
  • Projects to recruit and enroll patients for clinical trials
  • Projects that only involve patients as subjects (individuals enrolled into a study as participants)
  • Research studies including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and pragmatic clinical studies
  • Development or maintenance of a registry, or recruitment to participate in a registry
  • Projects designed solely to validate tools or instruments not created through a PCORI-funded project
  • Writing research proposals or completing grant applications, grantmaking
  • Projects focused solely on social determinants of health, with no focus on patient-centered outcomes research/comparative clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER)
  • Planning for dissemination or dissemination initiatives without including PCORI-funded research or related products
  • Implementation of PCORI findings in a clinical practice setting (PCORI funds dedicated implementation efforts through the Limited PCORI Funding Announcement: Implementation of PCORI-Funded Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Results)
  • Projects or meetings without a clear focus on patient-centered outcomes research/comparative clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER)

Avoiding Redundancy

PCORI encourages potential applicants to review funded projects at pcori.org. We intend to balance our funded portfolio to achieve synergy and avoid redundancy where possible.

Required Education of Key Personnel on the Protection of Human Subject Participants

PCORI requires that all applicants adhere to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy on education in the protection of human subject participants. This applies to all individuals listed as key personnel in the application. The policy and FAQs are available on the NIH website.

Back to top of page

II. Special Cycle: Building Capacity for PCOR/CER for Topics Related to COVID-19

The Engagement Award program is now accepting full proposals for the Special Cycle: Building Capacity for PCOR/CER for Topics Related to COVID-19, a research support—not research—special funding opportunity for projects up to 18 months in duration and up to $200,000 in total costs. The length of the project period and budget amount must be justified by the level of activity that will occur during the project and all projects must be at least 12 months in duration.

Overview of Building Capacity for PCOR/CER

This Engagement Award funding announcement offers an opportunity for organizations and community groups to build capacity and skills for patient-centered outcomes research and comparative clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER), as well as understand the impact of stakeholder engagement within different settings and stakeholder groups focused on this special area of interest.

In the context of the Engagement Awards program, capacity building to support research refers to the following types of projects:

  • Projects that support organizations with strong ties to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and/or other stakeholders who have a connection to, expertise in, or lived experience related to the focus area to equip them to engage as partners in PCOR/CER. These projects will focus on building the knowledge, competencies, and abilities of their community to be meaningful partners with researchers throughout the research process from topic selection through design and conduct of research to dissemination or implementation of results.
  • Activities might include, but are not limited to:
    • Educating and training stakeholders on the fundamentals of PCOR/CER; establishing a sustainable collaborative or learning community; engaging stakeholders to identify important patient-centered outcomes, prioritize PCOR/CER topics or themes, and/or develop a research agenda; capturing stakeholder perspectives on emerging PCOR/CER needs and barriers/facilitators to patient-centered research.
      • Applicants may wish to consider utilizing PCORI’s Research Fundamentals, a free, on-demand, comprehensive training that offers different ways to learn about the health research process and be involved in patient-centered outcomes research.
    • Multi-stakeholder convenings, meetings, and conferences that include patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, purchasers, payers, health system leaders, and other stakeholders.
    • Convenings designed with the active involvement of patient and community groups and organizations to bring diverse stakeholders together around a central focus or theme that unifies stakeholders.
    • Convenings that include one or more of the following priority/focus areas: (a) facilitating discussion around patient-centered research design and development of PCOR, (b) sharing engagement methods, and/or (c) dissemination of research findings.
  • Projects that strengthen the skills of researchers to be better partners with patients and other stakeholders involved in PCOR/CER.
    • Applicants must clearly explain how the capacity that is developed through an award will be applied to existing or planned PCOR/CER partnership opportunities.
  • Projects that support the expansion of use or adoption of existing engagement tools and resources whenever possible, rather than develop new products and tools. Projects may implement available tools, processes, or programs, alone or in combination, in a new population or geographic area—for example, a new network of clinicians, patient advocates, and academic researchers.
    • If this project is using a PCORI-funded engagement tool/resource, applicants should identify the existing engagement tool/resource that this project will be scaling or adopting by listing the: (a) Tool Name, (b) Project Title, (c) Project Lead Name, (d) URL to project page. Applicants should anticipate seeking a letter of support from the tool/resource originator should a full application be invited.
    • Applicants should identify and describe all tools/trainings/programs that will be used as part of the project, as well as share the evidence base for the resources that will be used.

Funding Priorities for Special Cycle: COVID-19

This special funding opportunity will support projects that enable organizations and communities to develop their capacity and skills to participate across all phases of the PCOR/CER process, as described above, on topics uniquely related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an opportunity to explore and address the urgent need to build capacity for stakeholder engagement in PCOR/CER specifically related to:

  • Long-term symptoms of post-acute COVID-19;
  • Impact of COVID-19 on disproportionately affected populations;
  • Impact of COVID-19 on social isolation and loneliness (mental health and well-being); and
  • Engaging, educating, and promoting informed decision making around the COVID-19 vaccine.

Other relevant topics related to COVID-19 health outcomes with appropriate justification will also be considered.

Types of projects under this funding announcement may include, but are not limited to:

  • Projects that capture and communicate emerging research needs identified by stakeholders, with emphasis on the PCOR/CER needs of patients, frontline workers, and other communities facing the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, clinicians, policy makers, hospitals, and health systems.
  • Projects that engage communities to identify barriers and facilitators related to making informed decisions and/or increasing awareness and education around the COVID-19 vaccines. 
  • Projects that identify important patient-centered outcomes of those experiencing long-term effects of post-acute COVID-19.
  • Projects that engage stakeholders and build capacity to participate in PCOR/CER related to telehealth or other technology-enhanced interventions and strategies.
  • Projects that engage stakeholders around social emotional health and well-being to prioritize PCOR/CER topics during the COVID-19 pandemic including social isolation and loneliness.

We expect that projects selected for an Engagement Award will further PCORI’s goals of promoting the relevance of research to target audiences and the uptake of research results by end users. We are committed to using and sharing successful approaches.

The information and learnings generated by Engagement Award projects must be generalizable; they must be of interest or use not just to the applicant organizations but to others doing related work. The learnings and information will be made public so they can have a broader impact. Please see the PCORI Engagement Tool and Resource Repository for examples of what this can look like.

Submitting a Successful Application

Successful applications will include:

  • Applicants should consider alternative plans for any convening activities within the project, should an in-person meeting not be feasible. Please consult PCORI’s Applicant and Awardee FAQs Related to COVID-19 to ensure your proposed project adheres to PCORI’s guidance related to applicant pre-award concerns.
    • PCORI is aware that there is an evolving context around the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to working with awardees to adapt projects and processes to the evolving context during this time so that deliverables are implemented fully as per the executed contract.
  • Rationale that there is a need for additional patient and/or stakeholder capacity to participate in COVID-19-related PCOR/CER with a clear and direct link to participation in research opportunities.
  • Applicants are encouraged to provide actionable findings as early in the project period as is feasible in the form of a submitted deliverable.
  • The intended impact of the proposed project.
  • The organization’s relationship to the population and/or context and track record in engagement.
  • Commitment from the patient and/or stakeholder communities to be involved in the project and clear patient and/or stakeholder involvement/leadership in all stages of the proposed work.
  • Evaluation metrics for assessing the success of engagement strategies.
  • Plans for sustainability/next steps after the project period has ended. Future funding from PCORI should not be assumed. If the project does not lend itself to sustained activities after the project period concludes, provide justification.
  • If using or adopting a PCORI-funded engagement tool or resource:
    • Description of the engagement tool(s) or resource(s) selected and justification for its continued and expanded use. Provide information about prior use/implementation of the tool(s) or resource(s), including any data on its effectiveness to build capacity for patient and stakeholder engagement in PCOR/CER.
    • Approval to use and, if applicable, adapt tool(s) and resource(s) from the relevant copyright owner of the tool(s) and/or resource(s) in the form of a written letter of support with the full proposal submission. This will typically be from the awardee institution of the original PCORI award. The relevant owner must grant the applicant rights to the engagement tool(s)/resource(s) sufficient to carry out the project.

Back to top of page

III. Project Evaluation

Applicants must include a completed Evaluation Reporting Tool as a deliverable at the end of the project period. The Evaluation Reporting Tool provides a template to collect information about Engagement Awards that can help with evaluation of our portfolio, as well as evaluation of individual projects. This reporting tool should be taken into consideration during proposal development and uploaded at the end of the project period with the Final Deliverable Milestone. Awardees may use a different evaluation framework if there is one that is more aligned with their project proposal, subject to PCORI approval. Applicants adopting such an approach must identify the proposed alternate evaluation framework in their application.

The goal of this reporting tool is to ensure a standard set of reported information for Engagement Awards. Given the difficulty in applying metrics and a standard set of indicators around engagement best practices, this tool provides a baseline of outcomes to report on in Engagement Award projects.

At a minimum, evaluation plans should document the reach (in absolute numbers) of the engagement effort among the targeted end users and settings.

Back to top of page

IV. Review Process

Applying for this award is a one-stage process unlike applying for other Engagement Awards. A full proposal is required at the time of submission. An LOI is not required. Specific requirements and guidance to complete a successful application are found in the full funding announcement, submission instructions, and submission checklist.

Proposals must be submitted by the application deadline of May 24, 2021 at 5 pm ET. PCORI may request additional information from the applicant after the initial review of the full proposal. PCORI aims to provide a final programmatic approval decision on the full proposal, via email, within 10 weeks of the application deadline. If the full proposal is programmatically approved, a PCORI staff member will coordinate arrangements to begin budgetary review and contracting negotiations.

To select high-quality patient-centered projects, PCORI’s Engagement and Contract Management and Administration teams and internal and external subject matter experts (as necessary) will review all applications.

Review Criteria:

  1. Program Fit
  2. Project Plan and Timeline
  3. Qualifications of the Project Lead, Personnel, and Organizational Capabilities
  4. Patient and Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Collaborators
  5. Past Performance
  6. Budget/Cost Proposal

For additional details on the review process, click here.

Back to top of page

V. How To Apply

  1. Read the full funding announcement
  2. Follow the process outlined in the Submission Instructions
    (A Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required for this PFA.)
  3. Submit an application

Submit an Application

Back to top of page

VI. Applicant Resources

Special Cycle 2021 Resources

  • Applicant Webinar: March 2, 2021 (Recorded, no registration necessary)
  • Applicant Office Hours (Session 1): March 8, 2021 – 12:00-12:30 pm ET
  • Applicant Office Hours (Session 2): March 22, 2021 – 12:00-12:30 pm ET
  • Applicant Office Hours (Session 3): April 12, 2021 – 12:00-1:00 pm ET
  • Submission Instructions

Preparing Your Application

  • Special Cycle: COVID-19 PFA (PDF)
  • Submission Instructions
  • Submission Checklist
  • Special Cycle: COVID-19 Proposal Question Guide
  • Applicant FAQs
  • PCORI Online: Pre-award User Guides
  • Review Process

Required Application Templates

  • Biosketch Template
  • Budget Template (12- to 18-Month Project)
  • Budget Justification Template (12- to 18-Month Project)
  • Milestone/Deliverable Table Template (12- to 18-Month Project)
  • Project Workplan and Timeline Template (Special Cycle: COVID-19)
  • Board of Directors Template

Additional Applicant Resources

  • Funded Projects Portfolio: Engagement in Research
  • Evaluation Reporting Tool Template (for Awarded Projects)
  • Glossary
  • Cost Principles: Description of Allowable Direct Costs under a PCORI Award
  • Standard Contracts for Engagement Award Projects

Back to top of page

VII. Questions?

If you have any additional questions, please contact PCORI at ea@pcori.org or (202) 370-9312. PCORI will provide a response within three business days.

Back to top of page

Funding Opportunities

  • What & Who We Fund
  • What You Need to Know to Apply
  • Applicant Training
  • Merit Review
  • Awardee Resources
  • Help Center

About Us

  • Our Programs
  • Governance
  • Financials and Reports
  • Procurement Opportunities
  • Our Staff
  • Our Vision & Mission
  • Contact Us

Research & Results

  • Explore Our Portfolio
  • Research Fundamentals
  • Research Results Highlights
  • Putting Evidence to Work
  • Peer Review
  • Evidence Synthesis
  • About Our Research

Engagement

  • The Value of Engagement
  • Engagement in Health Research Literature Explorer
  • Influencing the Culture of Research
  • Engagement Awards
  • Engagement Resources
  • Engage with Us

Funding Opportunities

  • What & Who We Fund
  • What You Need to Know to Apply
  • Applicant Training
  • Merit Review
  • Awardee Resources
  • Help Center

Meetings & Events

April 12
Engagement Awards 2021 Special Cycle -- Applicant Office Hours (Three)
April 13
Board of Governors Meeting: April 13, 2021
April 19
Increasing Vaccine Confidence among Long-Term Care Workers: Expedited COVID-19 PFA -- Applicant Town Hall

PCORI

Footer contact address

Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute

1828 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 827-7700 | Fax: (202) 355-9558
info@pcori.org

Subscribe to Newsletter

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Vimeo

© 2011-2021 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Trademark Usage Guidelines | Credits | Help Center