Systems-Based Approaches to Improve Patient Safety by Improving Healthcare Worker Safety and Well-Being (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering funding under the R01 Research Project Grant mechanism for projects that aim to enhance patient safety by improving healthcare worker safety and well-being. AHRQ plays a critical role in advancing high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare in the United States through research and collaboration. Recognizing that patient safety is directly linked to the safety and well-being of healthcare workers, AHRQ has issued this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to encourage systems-based research that explores interventions and processes supporting healthcare worker resilience and operational efficiency. The primary objective of this funding opportunity, titled “Systems-Based Approaches to Improve Patient Safety by Improving Healthcare Worker Safety and Well-Being,” is to support research that involves healthcare workers in the planning and execution of systems-level improvements in healthcare delivery. Healthcare environments are complex and adaptive, often exposing workers to physical, psychological, and emotional risks that compromise their ability to provide safe and effective care. AHRQ seeks proposals that will contribute to understanding and improving the dynamic interrelations among healthcare systems, environments, technologies, and the professionals who operate within them. Eligible projects must include licensed healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nurses, or therapists, in key roles such as principal investigators, co-investigators, or senior personnel. Additionally, projects are required to involve at least one expert from outside traditional medical fields—such as engineering, architecture, informatics, or psychology—who can contribute specialized safety-related knowledge. Applications should define healthcare worker safety or well-being in operational terms and propose methodologies to address issues such as burnout, moral distress, workflow inefficiencies, and poorly designed technology. AHRQ emphasizes the value of both Safety-I (focusing on reducing harm) and Safety-II (emphasizing system resilience and success under pressure) frameworks in designing interventions. Funding will be provided for projects up to four years in duration, with a maximum of $500,000 per year in total costs and a ceiling of $2 million over the project period. Funds must be used exclusively for expenses directly related to the proposed project and must comply with applicable federal regulations. Applications must adhere to standard due dates established by AHRQ, with the first submission window having opened on January 5, 2024. Although this NOFO has officially expired as of March 17, 2026, NIH and AHRQ may accept late submissions under specific policies regarding late or continuous applications. Applications must be submitted via one of the authorized electronic systems: NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. The submission process requires a completed SF424 (R&R) application form along with other supporting documentation including a data management plan and resource sharing strategy. A letter of intent is encouraged and should be submitted 30 days prior to the chosen application due date. Review of applications generally occurs four months after submission, with project start dates expected four months post-review. All submitted proposals must align with AHRQ's core mission of improving healthcare quality, and evaluation will be based on criteria such as significance, innovation, investigator qualifications, and overall project feasibility. For inquiries, applicants can contact Ellen Deutsch, MD, MS, from the General Patient Safety division at [email protected] or 301-648-3028. This funding opportunity is governed by federal regulations and AHRQ-specific guidance, and applicants must ensure all required registrations, including SAM.gov and eRA Commons, are in place prior to submission.