The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has announced that it will award up to $600 million over three years in support of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER).

Beginning in fiscal year 2024, PCORI will develop and issue funding announcements related to improving mental and behavioral health, improving cardiovascular health, preventing maternal morbidity and mortality, promoting health for older adults, addressing substance use, improving outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, addressing rare diseases, and promoting sleep health. PCORI also announced it will consider funding four additional themes later this year: promoting child and adolescent health, addressing violence and trauma, managing pain, and addressing COVID-19. To date, PCORI has invested approximately $4 billion in support of patient-centered CER and other research-related projects.

“Informed by evidence gaps, the board-approved topic themes, and input from patients and other stakeholders, PCORI is able to adapt to the evolving health and healthcare landscape, responding to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and research communities by funding patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research,” said Harv Feldman, PCORI’s deputy executive director for patient-centered research programs. “We encourage researchers to begin developing possible patient-focused CER proposals in advance of the issuance of focused PCORI funding announcements addressing these topic themes.”

“Comparative clinical effectiveness research that PCORI will fund as a result of today’s board approval has the potential to inform the healthcare choices and impact the well-being of millions of individuals and their families,” said PCORI executive director Nakela L. Cook. “We are excited to continue this important work advancing our National Priorities for Health and generating sound evidence that helps patients, clinicians, and caregivers understand their care options and become more empowered decision makers.”

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