PCORI seeks to fund multiple high-quality clinical studies that compare the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments for relief of common symptoms experienced by patients with serious, advanced illness. For the Cycle 2 2018 PFA, PCORI has refined the requirements for choosing comparative treatments, and removed depression from the symptom list. The goal of this funding initiative is to support patient- and caregiver-centered, comparative clinical effectiveness research to generate important findings that will aid decision making about symptom management in advanced illness.

Symptoms of specific interest for this PFA include pain, fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, anorexia/cachexia, nausea/vomiting, and anxiety. Study populations should include patients with a serious, life-limiting diagnosis, including but not limited to advanced heart failure, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or neurodegenerative diseases. PCORI is particularly interested in studies that will increase the evidence for treatments that are effective in pediatric and adolescent populations, where fewer studies have been completed. Research questions should incorporate long-term outcomes; a minimum of six months of follow-up of patient participants is encouraged.