PCORI Comparative Effectiveness Research 2026
PCORI
Weighted Score
Amount
$500K - $2.0M
Deadline
2026-09-01
LOI Required
Yes
Funder Type
nonprofit
PCORI Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) 2026
Priority: 🟡 CYCLE 1 MISSED - TARGET CYCLE 2 Cycle 1 LOI Deadline: January 6, 2026 - ❌ PASSED
⚠️ DEADLINE STATUS
| Cycle | LOI Deadline | Full App | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 | Jan 6, 2026 | May 5, 2026 | ❌ PASSED |
| Cycle 2 | Apr 28, 2026 | Sept 1, 2026 | 🟢 TARGET |
Action Required: Prepare for Cycle 2 LOI submission (April 28, 2026).
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Funder | Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) |
| Program | Comparative Effectiveness Research 2026 |
| Amount | Up to $2,000,000 |
| LOI Deadline | January 6, 2026 |
| Full Application | May 5, 2026 (if LOI accepted) |
| Type | Federal (Independent nonprofit) |
| Prior Relationship | Pipeline - High priority target |
Funding Details
- Award Range: Up to $2M (varies by category)
- Broad Pragmatic Studies Categories:
- Category 1: Up to $5M direct costs
- Category 2: $5M - $12M direct costs
- Category 3: $12M - $30M direct costs
- Total Available: $120M+ annually
- Duration: 3-5 years typically
- Cost Sharing: Not required
PCORI's Critical Requirements
Six Foundational Expectations for Partnerships
- Authentic Partnership - Patients/stakeholders as true partners
- Meaningful Engagement - Not token involvement
- Co-Learning - Bidirectional knowledge exchange
- Sustainability - Long-term relationship building
- Transparent Processes - Open communication
- Equity and Power-Sharing - Balanced decision-making
Strategic Alignment
Recommended Route
Route 3: AI + Healthcare Research - FIU Thrive evaluation research
Why PCORI Fits
- Patient-Centered Focus: NHELP's community engagement model
- Health Equity Priority: PCORI specifically prioritizes disparities research
- Comparative Effectiveness: Thrive-enhanced vs. standard care comparison
- Community Health Worker Integration: CHW partnerships valued
- Large Award Potential: Up to $2M+ for significant research
Alignment Scores
| Dimension | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Funder Alignment | 4.5 | Perfect mission match |
| Capability Match | 4.0 | Research infrastructure needed |
| Success Probability | 3.5 | Competitive but strong fit |
| Strategic Value | 5.0 | Major research funding |
| Resource Efficiency | 3.0 | Significant application effort |
| Weighted Score | 4.10 | HIGH PRIORITY |
Research Concept
Proposed Study Design
Title: "Comparative Effectiveness of AI-Enhanced SDOH Screening and Navigation vs. Standard Care in Underserved Communities"
Primary Question: Does FIU Thrive-enhanced SDOH screening and closed-loop referral improve patient-centered outcomes compared to standard community health center care?
Study Arms:
- Intervention: FIU Thrive + CHW navigation + closed-loop referrals
- Control: Standard SDOH screening and referral processes
Outcomes:
- Primary: SDOH needs addressed at 6 months
- Secondary: Health service utilization, patient satisfaction, health status
Application Strategy
Key Elements
- Patient Advisory Board: Establish community advisory with patient representatives
- Comparative Framework: Clear intervention vs. control design
- Health Equity Lens: Frame around disparities reduction
- Pragmatic Design: Real-world implementation focus
- CHW Integration: Community health worker partnerships
Recommended Framing
"This patient-centered comparative effectiveness study will evaluate whether AI-powered social determinants of health screening and navigation through FIU Thrive, delivered via the NeighborhoodHELP mobile health program, improves patient-centered outcomes compared to standard community health center practices in Miami-Dade County's underserved communities..."
Timeline (Updated for Cycle 2)
| Date | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ MISSED | ||
| Feb-Mar 2026 | Develop research concept | 🟢 CURRENT |
| Mar 2026 | Establish patient advisory board | 🔵 PENDING |
| Apr 1-15, 2026 | Finalize LOI materials | 🔵 PENDING |
| Apr 28, 2026 | CYCLE 2 LOI DEADLINE | 🎯 TARGET |
| May-Jul 2026 | Full application (if LOI accepted) | 🔵 PENDING |
| Sept 1, 2026 | FULL APPLICATION | 🎯 TARGET |
Patient Advisory Board Requirements
Composition Needed
- 3-5 community members/patients from NHELP service area
- 1-2 CHW representatives
- 1-2 community organization partners
- Clinical stakeholder representation
Engagement Structure
- Quarterly meetings minimum
- Co-design of research questions
- Review of study materials
- Input on dissemination strategy
Contacts
- PCORI Website: pcori.org/funding-opportunities
- Application Portal: PCORI Online
- Program Staff: Engage before LOI submission
Supporting Documents Needed
In This Folder
application/- LOI and full application materialsresearch/- PCORI program researchdrafts/- Research concept draftssupporting-docs/- Community letters, data
Key Preparation Items
- Preliminary patient outcomes data from NHELP
- FIU Thrive platform documentation
- Community partner letters of support
- FIU IRB preliminary consultation
- Research team biosketches
PCORI Portfolio Analysis
Related Funded Projects to Reference
- Community health worker interventions
- SDOH screening implementation studies
- Health equity research in underserved populations
- Digital health comparative effectiveness
Notes
- PCORI offers Engagement Awards ($100K-$500K) - consider as relationship-builder
- Sign up for PCORI funding alerts
- Review PCORI's Methods Research priorities (AI/ML applications)
- Connect with PCORI program officers early in process
Alignment Scores
4.15
Weighted Score
Strategic Notes
EXCELLENT FIT - Thrive enables patient-centered research. Compare Thrive vs standard care.