Enhancing Patient-Centered Outcomes in Emergency Department Migraine Management

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), in collaboration with Pfizer, has released a new request for proposals for a quality improvement grant program titled Enhancing Patient-Centered Outcomes in Emergency Department Migraine Management. This initiative is designed to fund projects that address the significant challenges and gaps in migraine care in emergency departments across the United States. ACEP represents over 38,000 emergency physicians, residents, and medical students, advocating for the highest quality of emergency care. Pfizer’s role in this program is limited to funding support, while the design, implementation, and conduct of funded projects are fully the responsibility of the grantees. The program seeks proposals focused on the safe, evidence-based management of patients with migraine who present to emergency departments. Funded projects should target improvements in patient outcomes, including enhanced pain control, decreased length of stay, decreased return visits, and improved patient and physician satisfaction. Applications are encouraged to propose clinical program developments that overcome existing barriers, such as inconsistent use of non-opioid treatments, inadequate patient follow-up, and variability in adherence to established guidelines. Projects emphasizing system-based changes, in addition to educational elements, will be prioritized. Importantly, this funding opportunity is intended for quality improvement initiatives, not clinical research into therapeutic or diagnostic agents. The grant program is open to healthcare institutions, professional schools, professional organizations, and government agencies in the United States. Individuals, independent medical practice groups, and organizations unable to directly receive funds from Pfizer are not eligible to apply. Eligible applicants must designate a Project Lead or Principal Investigator who is an employee or contractor of the applying organization. Collaborative proposals involving multiple institutions or professional groups are encouraged, provided that each partner has a meaningful role in the project and the requesting organization assumes a central leadership role. Projects supported under this program must be evidence-based and align with accepted quality improvement methodologies. The target audience for funded initiatives includes emergency physicians treating adult patients with migraine. Proposals are expected to define specific, measurable outcomes and demonstrate how they will improve the quality of migraine care. The review panel, composed of independent experts selected by ACEP, will assess submissions based on their potential to impact patient care, feasibility, alignment with established guidelines, and innovation in addressing gaps in emergency department migraine management. Applicants must submit their proposals through the Pfizer CyberGrants portal by September 29, 2025, at 23:59 Eastern Standard Time. Proposals must follow the detailed requirements outlined in the request, including a structured project plan, defined goals, baseline data, methods, evaluation strategy, anticipated outcomes, and budget details. The anticipated notification of award is October 31, 2025, with funded projects beginning in January 2026 and lasting for up to two years, concluding no later than January 2028. The total program budget is estimated at $600,000, with individual projects eligible for up to $200,000, inclusive of direct, indirect, and overhead costs capped at 28 percent. The program requires that applicants upload a complete proposal as outlined in the appendix of the request. Required documents include a project plan or proposal, supporting organizational details, anticipated timeline, and budget summary. Pfizer does not allow awarded funds to be used for capital expenses such as equipment purchases or Pfizer therapeutic products. Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to Sue Lee, Grant Officer, at sue.lee@pfizer.com, with the subject line “2025 IM US ACEP Migraine QI and August 2025.” Technical issues related to the submission portal should be addressed through the CyberGrants support system.

System-based changes, evidence-based approaches, and alignment with ACEP and AHS guidelines