Will the applications for D&I have to go through merit review?

Yes. PCORI conducts rigorous merit review of the full applications it receives. Note that PCORI may eliminate applications from the review process for administrative reasons (e.g., non-responsiveness). PCORI may administratively withdraw an application if it is incomplete; 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.