Will the applications for SDM have to go through merit review?

Yes. PCORI conducts rigorous merit review of the full applications it receives. Note that applications may be eliminated from the review process for administrative reasons (e.g., non-responsiveness). An application may be administratively withdrawn if it is incomplete; is submitted past the stated due date and time; or does not meet the formatting criteria outlined in the Submission Instructions, in the PCORI templates, and in PCORI Online.