Notice of Upcoming PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA)

Research Initiative Highlights

This PCORI funding announcement (PFA) invites applications for high-quality comparative effectiveness research (CER) projects that focus on treatment options for adults 50 years or older with mild to moderate age-related hearing loss or presbycusis. For this PFA, investigators should address important decisional dilemmas by comparing treatment options that may include hearing devices and/or the support service models accompanying these devices. Hearing devices may encompass, but are not limited to, hearing aids or personal sound amplification products. Examples of support service models include audiologist or licensed technician fitting of hearing aids, patient self-selection and fitting of hearing aids, and counseling or education interventions. Proposed comparators must have established evidence of efficacy for hearing-related outcomes or widespread use.

PCORI solicits the submission of applications that propose rigorous randomized controlled trials or observational prospective cohort studies that evaluate the comparative effectiveness of hearing loss interventions on important patient-centered outcomes such as hearing-specific health-related quality of life or psychosocial outcomes as well as relevant functional outcomes for device comparisons for up to 6 months.

Please note that PCORI does not fund intervention costs and investigators will be required to document how they plan to cover these costs.

Investigators may request up to $2 million in direct costs for each project and a maximum study duration of three years. Studies with well justified design and analysis plans that may be completed in a shorter time frame are encouraged.

This preannouncement is intended to allow investigators enough time to develop rigorous applications that address high-priority patient- and stakeholder-guided research questions. A full announcement providing additional information for this PFA will be published on January 3, 2019.

Please note that the Treatment Options for Age-Related Hearing Loss PFA will be reissued in Cycle 2 2019, providing investigators another opportunity to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). The PFA will be published on May 1, 2019, providing key information and deadlines for applicants.