PCORI Opens $120 Million Research Cycle with New AI and ML Priority
April 3, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute has opened its Cycle 2 2026 funding round, committing up to $120 million for Broad Pragmatic Studies alone — and for the first time elevating artificial intelligence and machine learning methods as a standalone priority area.
Letters of intent are due April 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, with full applications by invitation only in September.
Five Tracks, One Expanded Mandate
The cycle spans five funding tracks. The headline Broad Pragmatic Studies program offers individual awards of up to $12 million in direct costs over five years, targeting clinical and healthcare delivery interventions that compare real-world treatment options. Applicants can select up to three thematic areas per proposal.
A new Sensory Health track funds comparative effectiveness research for vision, hearing, and other sensory conditions across the lifespan. The Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research (PLACER) track uses a two-stage model — feasibility first, then full-scale funding — for interventions already in clinical use.
AI and Machine Learning Get Their Own Lane
The most significant shift is in PCORI's Improving Methods track, which now lists "Methods to Improve the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning" as a dedicated priority alongside real-world data and patient-centered measurement. This signals PCORI's recognition that AI tools are reshaping how comparative effectiveness research is designed, conducted, and analyzed.
Researchers developing AI-driven approaches to clinical data analysis, predictive modeling for treatment outcomes, or machine learning pipelines for multi-site studies should review this track carefully.
New Submission Rules Change the Calculus
Starting this cycle, principal investigators may submit only one LOI across select funding opportunities — a policy designed to concentrate effort on stronger proposals. The restriction applies across the Broad Pragmatic Studies, Sensory Health, and PLACER tracks, meaning PIs must choose their best shot rather than hedging across programs.
PCORI also covers patient care costs and offers structured mentorship for early- and mid-career investigators, making these awards particularly attractive for researchers building independent programs.
For researchers navigating the AI-in-healthcare funding landscape, grantedai.com maintains a searchable database of open opportunities across federal and private funders. With the LOI window closing in less than four weeks, teams should begin assembling letters of support and institutional commitments now.