Skip to main content

PCORI Funding

Open Opportunities: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

For more information:

Email Us
Home > PCORI Funding > PLACER – Cycle 3 – 2025

Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research (PLACER)

New Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) funding opportunity: Up to $22 million in direct costs for Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research (PLACER) studies comparing two or more existing approaches for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or care delivery. Research projects can have a duration of up to 18 months for a feasibility phase and five years for the main phase.

Studies should:

  • Address a critical clinical or care delivery problem
  • Have well-documented evidence of efficacy and/or widespread use, as demonstrated by prior research, systematic reviews, and/or clinical guidelines
  • Include evidence-based, impactful, patient-centered outcomes as indicated by patients, families, and caregivers (particularly those with lived experience) from the population of interest, as well as relevant members of the broader health and healthcare community
  • Examine diverse populations with an overall sample size that will allow precision in the estimation of hypothesized effect sizes and, as appropriate, analysis of heterogeneity of treatment effect
  • For this funding announcement, applicants may request coverage of patient care costs (including medical products, procedures, and care services) for potential funding

Highlights

  • Up to $120 million in total available funding
  • Up to $22 million per application
    • Feasibility phase: $2 million
    • Full-scale study phase: $20 million
  • Maximum project period: 6.5 years
    • Feasibility phase: 1.5 years
    • Full-scale study phase: 5 years
  • August 12 – Application opens
  • August 20 – Town Hall
  • September 23 – Letters of Intent due

How to Apply

To apply for this funding opportunity, there are four steps you must follow.

  • Read the full funding announcement, available online.
  • Follow the process outlined in the submission instructions.
  • Submit a Letter of Intent using the template on the application page.
  • Submit an application (if invited).

Important Dates

August 12 – Applications open
August 20 – Town Hall
September 23 – Letters of Intent due
October 21 – LOI status notification
January 13, 2026 – Applications due
March 2026 – Merit review
July 2026 – Awards announced
November 2026 – Earliest start date

Harvard Catalyst PCORI Consultation

For more information or to request a brief consultation, please contact Leslie MacGregor, PCORI Funding Specialist: Leslie_MacGregor@hms.harvard.edu