PCORI: Substance Use

If you are interested in the following opportunity, please contact Carole King at [email protected].

• LOI Due: September 8, 2026
• Amount: Up to $12 million (plus 40% indirects)
• Project Period: Up to five years

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Substance Use Funding Announcement (Cycle 3, 2026) supports large-scale, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) to determine which real-world interventions, treatments, or care delivery approaches work best for individuals with substance use disorders. Projects must compare existing strategies (rather than test novel therapies), focus on outcomes meaningful to patients (e.g., recovery, quality of life, treatment engagement), and incorporate robust patient and stakeholder engagement throughout the research process, with particular attention to underserved populations and persistent gaps in access to care. Studies are expected to be pragmatic and conducted in real-world settings, generating actionable evidence for patients, clinicians, and health systems.

This RFP is focusing on:

1. Evidence-Based Strategies to Advance Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
2. Evidence-Based Interventions for Overdose Prevention.
3. Strategies To Reduce Nicotine and Tobacco Use.
4. Treatment Strategies Addressing the Intersection of Poor Sleep and Substance Misuse/Substance Use Disorder.

Applicants are encouraged to propose individual- or cluster-randomized controlled trials; however, well-specified natural experiments and well-designed observational studies will also be considered. Funded studies answer practical clinical and policy questions, such as which combination of treatments improves recovery, which care model increases access, and which approach works best for specific populations in real-world settings.