Workshop series to reveal secrets of PCORI funding to UB researchers

Doug Landsittel, chair of the Department of Biostatistics, has a message for researchers university-wide: Securing research funding from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is a uniquely complicated process, and he’s here to help.

PCORI has become the main source of funding for studies that compare different treatments or approaches to health care (known as comparative effectiveness research) to find out which works best for patients, across clinical areas and disciplines. Since its authorization by Congress in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act, PCORI has awarded more than $4.5 billion to support about 2,400 research studies and related projects. Applicants need to understand, however, that PCORI has very different expectations for funding compared to NIH, NSF and other funding institutes.

Landsittel, who has personal experience as a principal investigator in PCORI-funded research for improving methods, will be the lead and presenter this fall at a series of five workshops that explain PCORI and what it funds. UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Workforce Development Core is facilitating these workshops. 

Landsittel is also linked to related efforts and resources from the Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences to promote “big studies” that are well-aligned with PCORI mechanisms.

The series describe “the ABCs of patient-centered comparative effectiveness research and PCORI funding to help researchers determine if PCORI is a reasonable avenue for funding their research and, if so, outline the main steps in achieving success in PCORI applications,” Landsittel says.

PCORI is “interested in what patients care about and seeing researchers examine proven solutions for what works best for whom and in what circumstances,” he adds. A patient-centered approach that considers all stakeholders represents an exciting paradigm shift in medical and research science. In fact, Landsittel stresses that PCORI’s focus on patient perspectives requires that projects engage patients and other stakeholders like health care systems, from concept to completion.

In addition to two PCORI funding experiences, Landsittel has also served on numerous PCORI reviews and as chair of one of its review panels on four occasions.

“PCORI’s requirements change the way we look at questions,” Landsittel explains. “Two of their six merit review criteria are about engaging patients, and their merit review includes patients, stakeholders and people to represent in a non-science capacity.” Landsittel’s goal with the workshops is encouraging researchers seeking funding to think about PCORI’s focus and six criteria for applications, even as early as when they conceptualize their study’s aims.

PCORI represents unique challenges for researchers seeking funding. The agency funds contracts, not grants, with significant restrictions, timelines and strict milestones associated with its funding.

“Funding research is always difficult, so being aware of what different funding agencies require and developing the skillset for applying for funding is really a must for all of us in academia,” Landsittel says.

Applying for and managing PCORI funding is notably different from NIH or NSF. For example, there are 17 categories of PCORI methodology standards and 67 standards, representing a significant logistical and administrative challenge.

“It is important to have methodologists on your team who understand these areas,” Landsittel says.

PCORI, he adds, will continue to grow in significance because it has substantial funding to give out, and pragmatic studies and patient-centered comparative effectiveness research are increasingly important as the use of real-world sources of evidence expands.

With these workshops as a guide, he hopes to orient researchers to the key points for successful PCORI proposals.

“PCORI funding is potentially applicable to almost any studies of real-world intervention effectiveness and with these workshops, we can maximize UB’s ability to submit successful PCORI proposals and become a national leader in this space,” he says.  

The PCORI workshops will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The workshop titles and dates:

• Sept. 23: PCORI's mission and how it’s different from NIH.
• Oct. 7: The ABCs of PCORI funding and the review process.
• Oct. 28: The methodology standards and other expectations for pragmatic studies.
• Nov. 4: Current PCORI funding priorities.
• Nov. 18: Ideas for advancing PCORI funding at UB and across SUNY.

To attend, register here.