PCORI: Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research

If you are interested in the following opportunity, please contact Carole King at carole.king@med.usc.edu.

• LOI due: January 6, 2026
• Budget: up to $22,000,000 (plus 40% indirects)
• Project period: 6.5 years

PCORI will fund high-quality patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) projects comparing two or more interventions with established efficacy or widespread use. Studies should address evidence gaps that inform healthcare decisions for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and policymakers. Eligible interventions include clinical (medications, tests, procedures) and delivery system (workforce, technologies, service designs) approaches.  Applications should focus on comparing existing interventions.

Applications must propose large individual- or cluster-randomized trials with two phases:

1. Feasibility Phase: Establish infrastructure, engage patients/stakeholders, test study operations, and refine procedures. This phase cannot generate efficacy evidence.
2. Full Phase: Proceeding to this phase depends on achieving feasibility milestones and deliverables.

Studies should address at least one PCORI-approved topic: cancer, intellectual/developmental disabilities, maternal health, mental/behavioral health, metabolic/endocrine health, pain, rare diseases, sensory health, or substance use.