PCORI seeks research proposals for $76 million in grants

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will start accepting letters of intent Aug. 6 for new research proposals on comparative effectiveness.

The not-for-profit, established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to fund and promote comparative-effectiveness research looking at which treatments work best for which patients, is offering research opportunities in five priority areas: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options; improving healthcare systems; communication and dissemination of research among patients; strategies to address health disparities; and methods for conducting patient-centered outcomes research.

Up to $76 million in funding will be awarded during the next round, with budgets for individual projects reaching up to $2 million. PCORI has awarded grants to various types of institutions, including universities, medical schools, not-for-profits, hospital systems, patient advocacy groups, community health centers and academic partnerships.

The goal is to make comparative effectiveness research more efficient and affordable, and to answer an array of questions about clinical care, Dr. Joe Selby, PCORI's executive director, said in a May interview.

A PCORI spokeswoman said applicants can submit letters Aug. 6 through Sept. 5 via pcori.org/apply. Applicants will be notified by Sept. 19 on whether they qualify to submit a full application.

Since it first began funding projects in 2012, a total of 313 research initiatives have been awarded money, totaling nearly $549 million. —Sabriya Rice

Follow Sabriya Rice on Twitter: @MHSRice