AHRQ Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administers the Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) to cultivate the next generation of independent health services researchers. Through this mechanism, AHRQ invests in clinically trained professionals—such as physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and other doctoral-level clinicians—who demonstrate strong potential to advance the science of healthcare delivery, quality, access, and equity within the United States. This award supports an intensive, mentored research and training experience, typically spanning three to five years, aimed at equipping candidates to transition successfully to research independence and secure major project funding such as the R01. The program emphasizes AHRQ’s mission to generate evidence that makes healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. Eligible research topics include studies on healthcare organization, financing, patient safety, outcomes, effectiveness, disparities, and the reduction of inequities across priority populations. Applicants must ensure their proposed research directly supports AHRQ’s domestic mission; international health projects are not eligible. Candidates are also encouraged to address issues relevant to AHRQ’s priority populations, including minorities, low-income groups, rural residents, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions. Funding under this program is structured as a combination of salary and research support. AHRQ will contribute up to $90,000 annually in direct costs for salary, with fringe benefits allowable per institutional policy, and up to $25,000 annually for research development expenses such as tuition, supplies, travel, and statistical services. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Awardees must dedicate at least 75% of their full-time professional effort to research and career development activities under the award, with remaining time permissible for clinical or teaching duties consistent with program goals. The total project period may not exceed five years. Eligible applicants include domestic public or private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and a range of state, local, and tribal governments and organizations. For-profit entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as primary recipients but may participate as subcontractors. Individual candidates must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or lawful permanent residents holding a valid clinical doctoral degree. Candidates who have previously held similar Federal mentored career awards are not eligible. Institutions must demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring, provide appropriate facilities, and support the candidate’s protected research time. Applications must be prepared and submitted electronically via Grants.gov using the SF424 (R&R) Career Development (K) Instructions. Key submission systems include NIH ASSIST, institutional system-to-system platforms, or Grants.gov Workspace. Standard NIH/AHRQ due dates apply, with submissions typically due October 12 annually. Applications undergo scientific peer review through AHRQ’s Health Care Research Training (HCRT) study section, with funding decisions based on merit, responsiveness to AHRQ priorities, and available appropriations. Award notifications are generally issued about four months after review. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult AHRQ scientific staff prior to submission to ensure responsiveness. For inquiries, scientific contact is Dr. Tamara Willis (Tamara.Willis@ahrq.hhs.gov; 301-427-1011). Financial management questions should be directed to Galen Gregor (Galen.Gregor@ahrq.hhs.gov; 301-427-1457). This opportunity, under Assistance Listing 93.226, remains active through February 14, 2027.