Large Research Projects for Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections (R01)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites applications under its Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Large Research Projects for Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections (R01). This initiative supports large-scale, investigator-initiated research projects that aim to build a stronger evidence base for the prevention and reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The grant uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and encourages a wide scope of scientifically rigorous studies that examine effective HAI detection, prevention, and reduction strategies. The FOA welcomes projects that assess clinical efficacy and epidemiology of HAIs in healthcare environments including acute care, ambulatory, and long-term care settings. Research may address central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), MRSA, Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), and multidrug-resistant organisms. AHRQ emphasizes the inclusion of equity considerations and the need for subgroup analyses involving priority populations such as low-income groups, racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, individuals with disabilities, and other underserved populations. Applications may be submitted by a broad range of U.S.-based entities including higher education institutions, nonprofits, tribal and local governments, and other eligible public entities. For-profit and foreign organizations are not eligible to apply as prime recipients but may serve as subcontractors. Each Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) must commit at least 20% annual full-time effort. While cost sharing is not required, institutional support may enhance an application’s competitiveness. The total budget for each award is capped at $500,000 annually, not to exceed $2.5 million over a five-year project period. Funding is contingent on the availability of federal appropriations and the merit of applications. There is no specific number of awards disclosed, but applications are accepted on a recurring basis under standard NIH/AHRQ due dates. The current expiration date for the FOA is October 31, 2026. Applicants must follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and comply with AHRQ-specific submission and reporting requirements, including submission of annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) and semiannual progress reports via the AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS). Questions about the grant can be directed to Dr. David Calfee or Dr. Melissa Miller at AHRQ, whose contact information is provided in the announcement.