Funding

Behavioral and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (R01)
The purpose of this FOA is to encourage behavioral and social science research on the causes and solutions to health and disabilities disparities in the U. S. population. Health disparities between, on the one hand, racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents and, on the other hand, the overall U.S. population are major public health concerns. Emphasis is placed on research in and among three broad areas of action: 1) public policy, 2) health care, and 3) disease/disability prevention. Particular attention is given to reducing “health gaps” among groups. Applications that utilize an interdisciplinary approach, investigate multiple levels of analysis, incorporate a life-course perspective, and/or employ innovative methods such as systems science or community-based participatory research are particularly encouraged. Standard dates apply. Expires September 8, 2016.

NIH NIDA Prescription Drug Abuse (R01) and (R21)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) encourages applicants to develop innovative research applications on prescription drug abuse, including research to examine the factors contributing to prescription drug abuse; to characterize the adverse medical, mental health and social consequences associated with prescription drug abuse; and to develop effective prevention and service delivery approaches and behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Standard R01 and R21 deadlines apply. Expires 01/08/16.

Translational Research to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Outcomes (R01)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages NIH Research Project Grants (R01) to test practical, sustainable, and cost efficient adaptations of efficacious strategies or approaches to prevent and treat diabetes and/or obesity. Research focused on the prevention or reversal of obesity, prevention of type 2 diabetes, improved care of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or the prevention or delay of the complications of these conditions is encouraged. The approaches tested should have the potential for wide dissemination and implementation outside of an academic setting such as in routine clinical practice or communities at risk. Standard R01 deadlines apply. Expires 01/08/17.

Exploratory and Developmental Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R21)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund exploratory and developmental research grants that will contribute to the evidence base of how health IT improves health care quality.  This FOA supports the use of a wide variety of research designs in order to generate information regarding the design and development, implementation, use, or impact of health IT on quality.  Depending on the research design and intent of the project, applicants may receive support for: (1) pilot and feasibility or self-contained health IT research projects; (2) secondary data analysis of health IT research; or (3) economic (prospective or retrospective) analyses of a health IT project.  Each grant application must clearly state which type of the three types of studies is being proposed.

This FOA is focused on five research areas of interest that are needed to support health care quality and are considered part of a continuous quality improvement process.  The five research areas of interest for this FOA are:

1.  Design

2.  Implementation

3.  Use

4.  Impact on outcomes

5.  Measurement

Each application must clearly state at least one primary research area to be addressed.  These five research areas are more fully discussed in Section I below. Standard due dates apply. Expires November 17, 2016.

AHRQ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Mentored Clinical Investigator Award (K08)
The primary purpose of the AHRQ PCOR Mentored Clinical Investigator Award (K08) program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers utilizing complex comparative effectiveness research (CER) methods to clinical and health systems PCOR issues, involving stakeholders, as appropriate, in the design, execution,and dissemination of the research. Standard due dates apply. Expires July 13, 2016.

AHRQ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
The primary purpose of the AHRQ PCOR Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) program is to prepare qualified individuals for careers utilizing complex comparative effectiveness research (CER) methods to clinical and health systems PCOR issues, involving stakeholders, as appropriate, in the design, execution,and dissemination of the research.  Standard due dates apply. Expires July 13, 2016.

Advances in Patient Safety through Simulation Research (R18)
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is interested in funding a diverse set of projects that develop, test and evaluate various simulation approaches for the purpose of improving the safe delivery of health care.  Simulation in health care serves multiple purposes.  As a training technique, it exposes individuals and teams to realistic clinical challenges through the use of mannequins, task trainers, virtual reality, standardized patients or other forms, and allows participants to experience in real-time the consequences of their decisions and actions.  The principal advantage of simulation is that it provides a safe environment for health care practitioners to acquire valuable experience without putting patients at risk. Simulation also can be used as a test-bed to improve clinical processes and to identify failure modes or other areas of concern in new procedures and technologies that might otherwise be unanticipated and serve as threats to patient safety. Yet another application of simulation focuses on the establishment of valid and reliable measures of clinical performance competency and their potential use for credentialing and certification purposes.  Applications that address a variety of simulation techniques, clinical settings, provider groups, priority populations, patient conditions, and threats to safety are welcomed.  Standard dates apply. Expires September 26, 2016.