AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants (R18)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, serves as the nation’s lead agency for improving healthcare quality for all Americans. Through a science-based approach, AHRQ develops tools, data, and knowledge to help consumers, professionals, and policymakers make informed healthcare decisions. The AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants (R18) program reflects this mission by funding discrete health services research projects that align with the agency’s research priorities. This funding opportunity announcement, PA-24-156, is a reissue of PA-18-793, and it supports research initiatives designed to improve healthcare quality, delivery, patient safety, and whole-person care across the U.S. healthcare system. This grant invites applications that focus on AHRQ's strategic research priorities: improving healthcare quality and patient safety, enhancing healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and promoting comprehensive whole-person care. Projects can target a wide range of healthcare settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory care, home healthcare, pharmacies, and care transition environments. Eligible research may engage diverse stakeholder groups such as clinicians, patients, families, healthcare organizations, policymakers, and public health agencies at local, state, or federal levels. Research is encouraged to consider AHRQ’s designated priority populations, such as underserved communities, racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, and persons with disabilities. Grants awarded under this opportunity will not exceed $400,000 in total costs per year for up to five years. Applications exceeding this cap will not be reviewed. Budget requests must be directly related to the project and align with federal cost principles and AHRQ-specific grant policies. Funds must be used only for project-related activities, and indirect costs must adhere to AHRQ guidelines. While this opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate institutional commitment through resource contributions such as staff time or donated space. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, local and state governments, independent school districts, tribal entities, and certain housing authorities. For-profit and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as prime recipients but may participate as sub-awardees. All applicants must be registered with SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission, and all Program Directors/Principal Investigators must have an eRA Commons account. Applications must be submitted electronically using the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional systems. The first submission due date for this opportunity is May 25, 2024, with standard due dates applying thereafter. Applications undergo a four-month peer review process and, if selected, may start four months after review. This NOFO is currently active and recurring, with a new expiration date of March 6, 2026. Applicants must include a Data Management Plan and consider how their project design includes or addresses AHRQ’s priority populations. Evaluation criteria include significance, investigator expertise, innovation, approach, and environment. Applications must demonstrate scientific merit and alignment with AHRQ’s priorities. Technical assistance is available via the eRA Service Desk, Grants.gov support, and AHRQ program contacts. Email inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or financial questions to [email protected]. More information and program-specific contacts are available at https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/priorities-contacts/contacts/index.html.