Rural Health Research Dissemination Program

The Rural Health Research Dissemination Program is a forthcoming opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It aims to support the dissemination and promotion of rural health services research. The program is managed by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), which funds various research initiatives through the Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) Program and other cooperative agreements. This dissemination initiative is designed to ensure that rural health research reaches a broad audience that includes national, state, and community-level decision makers and stakeholders. The central objective of this funding opportunity is to support a single entity that will serve as the hub for cataloging, distributing, and promoting health services research focused on rural populations. The awardee will be expected to maintain a comprehensive website that houses all relevant research supported by FORHP, ensuring that findings are both easily accessible and freely available to the public. This is critical to closing information gaps, informing rural health policy decisions, and promoting evidence-based practices in underserved rural communities. In addition to web-based access, the grantee must establish and maintain innovative and proactive dissemination strategies. These strategies may include email listservs, regular use of social media platforms, organizing webinars, and presenting at national health conferences. The goal is to maximize the reach and utility of research findings, ensuring timely and targeted distribution to those who can act on the information to improve rural health outcomes. Eligibility for this program is broad and inclusive. It spans a wide range of public and private institutions, including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal organizations, and small businesses. However, all applicants must be based in the United States or in specified U.S. territories, as only domestic organizations are eligible. This geographic restriction underscores the program’s targeted focus on U.S. rural health issues. Applications will be submitted electronically, with the portal opening around March 3, 2026, and closing on April 17, 2026. Applicants must ensure submission no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While the specific application components have not yet been detailed, applicants should anticipate a cooperative agreement structure, which implies active participation by the funder in project implementation. The estimated project start date is July 1, 2026, with award notifications expected by June 1, 2026. This is a forecasted opportunity and is expected to recur annually. The total program funding is estimated at $230,000, with a single award anticipated. No cost sharing or matching is required for participation. Potential applicants are encouraged to prepare early and monitor updates as the estimated post date approaches. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Karis Tyner at the Health Resources and Services Administration via email at [email protected] or by phone at (301) 287-2615.