AHRQ Conference Grant Programs (R13)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers funding through its Conference Grant Program (R13) to support conferences and scientific meetings aligned with its mission. AHRQ’s mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work with HHS and other partners to ensure that evidence is understood and used. This program replaces the previous AHRQ Conference Grant NOFO PA-16-453 and may differ from NIH guidance, so applicants must follow AHRQ-specific instructions. The program is open to single-year and multiple-year conference grant applications, with specific eligibility and spending requirements. The grant supports four types of conferences: Research Development, focusing on defining issues in healthcare delivery and creating research agendas; Research Design and Methodology, addressing significant methodological issues or developing new designs; Dissemination and Implementation, summarizing and sharing research findings and tools; and Research Training, Infrastructure and Career Development, which involves sharing research products, curricula, or competencies without providing direct didactic training. Conferences may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid, but costs must be well justified, with virtual formats generally expected to be less expensive. Regionally based conferences are acceptable if they include plans for national dissemination. Direct costs for a project awarded under this NOFO will not exceed $50,000 annually, and Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs are not allowed. The project period can be up to one year for single-year conferences or up to three years for multiple-year conferences, with a maximum of five years for permanently sponsoring organizations. Allowable expenses include equipment rental, travel (economy class and within policy limits), conference supplies, necessary conference services such as recording and translation, publication costs, and consultant fees. Unallowable costs include equipment purchase, registration fees, entertainment, food, honoraria, facility alterations, promotional items, and costs associated with CME certification. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits, various levels of government, tribal entities, and other organizations described in section 501(c)3 or without 501(c)3 status. For-profit and foreign institutions cannot lead applications but may participate as consortium members or subcontractors. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, following the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and AHRQ-specific requirements. A composite categorical budget covering all sources of funding must be included, or the application will not be reviewed. The application process includes standard due dates of April 12, August 12, and December 12 each year, with the program recurring annually. The earliest start date is typically four months after peer review, and applicants should plan for a minimum of eight months between submission and project start. Review criteria include significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, environment, inclusion of priority populations, budget appropriateness, and responsiveness to AHRQ’s mission and priorities. Applications must clearly identify the conference type, include a draft agenda, and provide plans for evaluation and dissemination of outcomes. The NOFO was most recently updated on March 31, 2025, to align with agency priorities. The funding opportunity remains active with an expiration date of November 1, 2026. AHRQ will provide notices of award to successful applicants, who must then hold the conference within twelve months of the budget period start date and submit a post-conference summary within ninety days. Key contacts for the program include the Division of Policy, Coordination and Analysis (grant_queries@ahrq.hhs.gov), the Division of Scientific Review (DSR@ahrq.hhs.gov), and Brian Campbell in Grants Management (brian.campbell@ahrq.hhs.gov, 301-427-1266).

Apply early to correct errors; ensure conference date and venue are included; include plans for national dissemination if regionally based; ensure all required registrations are complete well before submission