Are applications submitted in response to the Methods PFA required to include a comparative component?

No. This announcement differs from the other PCORI funding announcements in a fundamental way—the Methods program solicits applications for methodological research that aim to improve how patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR)/comparative effectiveness research studies are designed and conducted. It does not fund experimental or observational studies themselves; applications submitted in response to the Methods PFA are therefore not required to have a comparative component. However, applicants should describe how the methods will be evaluated as part of the proposed research.