PCORI Opens $120 Million for Large-Scale Health Research With New AI Priority
April 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has opened its Cycle 2 2026 funding announcements, committing up to $120 million for large-scale pragmatic health research studies. Individual awards can reach $12 million in direct costs over five years — among the largest non-NIH research grants available to health researchers.
Letters of intent are due April 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Full applications, by invitation only, are due September 1.
Three Funding Tiers and a New AI/ML Priority
The Broad Pragmatic Studies program offers three categories: projects up to $5 million in direct costs, projects between $5 million and $12 million, and national-scale studies using PCORnet infrastructure for observational research and pragmatic trials.
PCORI is strongly encouraging randomized controlled trials but will accept well-designed observational studies and natural experiments. The emphasis on pragmatic, real-world evidence makes these awards accessible to health systems, academic medical centers, and community health organizations that can conduct research embedded in routine care delivery.
Notably, PCORI has expanded its Methods funding to include a new priority area: "Methods To Improve the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Patient-Centered CER." This covers AI/ML applications that augment research methodologies, enhance health communication, and improve the use of real-world data. A supplemental program also allows current grantees to incorporate large language model research into existing projects.
How to Position a Competitive Application
PCORI has introduced a new rule limiting principal investigators to one letter of intent per cycle across select funding opportunities. Researchers must choose strategically between the Broad Pragmatic Studies track and other concurrent PCORI announcements, including Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research and a new Sensory Health initiative.
Applicants should note that PCORI covers patient care costs incurred during research — a significant benefit that reduces the financial barrier for health systems participating in pragmatic trials.
Health researchers and institutions can find PCORI and similar funding opportunities on grantedai.com.