AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36)

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Description

This opportunity provides support for dissertation research conducted as part of an accredited doctoral program in health services research. The program aims to advance the field by funding projects that address AHRQ’s mission: making healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. Research topics must be directly relevant to U.S. healthcare delivery and align with AHRQ’s priority areas, such as patient safety, data and technology for quality improvement, and innovative approaches to care delivery and financing.

AHRQ encourages projects that address health equity, move beyond documenting disparities, and focus on evidence-based solutions to inequities in care delivery. The program is open to a wide range of disciplines, including behavioral sciences, health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics, health informatics, economics, and related fields.

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Due Dates

• Applications are accepted four times per year:
  • February 1
  • May 1
  • August 1
  • November 1
• Next upcoming deadlines: August 1, 2025; November 1, 2025; February 1, 2026; May 1, 2026
• Letter of intent (optional): 30 days prior to application due date

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Funding Amount

• Salary/Stipend: Up to the current NIH NRSA predoctoral stipend level (see NRSA stipend levels)
• Additional Direct Costs: Up to $15,000 (e.g., tuition, data collection, supplies, travel)
• Indirect Costs: Limited to 8% of modified total direct costs
• Project Period: Minimum 9 months, maximum 17 months
• No cost sharing required

Note: Individuals with active NRSA support (T32, F31, F32) may only request up to $15,000 for non-salary expenses and cannot request salary support during the NRSA period.

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Eligibility

• Applicant Organization: Must be an accredited doctoral-granting institution in the U.S. (individuals cannot apply directly)
• Candidate (PD/PI):
  • U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident by the time of award
  • Full-time doctoral student in good standing in an accredited research doctoral program (e.g., health services research, behavioral sciences, nursing, epidemiology, health policy, etc.)
  • Must have completed all non-dissertation requirements (including qualifying exams) by the time of application; only clinical internships that follow the dissertation may remain
  • No more than part-time employment (≤20 hours/week) outside the academic appointment at the time of award
  • Not a recipient of a mentored career development award
• Mentor and Committee: The mentor must be listed as a key person; other committee members should be included as key personnel with biosketches

Ineligible: For-profit organizations, foreign institutions, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may not apply as lead applicants.

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Application Process

• Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov using ASSIST, institutional S2S, or Grants.gov Workspace.
• Required Registrations: SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov (can take 6+ weeks)
• Application Components:
  • SF424 (R&R) forms (follow AHRQ-specific instructions)
  • Research Plan (must include potential impact, dissemination plans, and unique contribution)
  • Letters of Support:
    1. From the dissertation committee or university official, certifying eligibility and institutional support
    2. From the candidate, describing career goals and relevance to AHRQ
  • Biographical sketches for candidate, mentor, and committee members
  • Budget justification (detailed, not modular)
  • Appendix: Only official transcript and any survey instruments/interview guides
• Page Limits: Follow SF424 (R&R) and AHRQ-specific limits
• Human Subjects: Complete PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information as applicable
• No Data Management and Sharing Plan required for this NOFO

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Additional Information

• Allowable Costs: Salary/stipend (up to NRSA level), tuition, data collection, supplies, travel (up to $1,500 for U.S. conferences), equipment (with justification)
• Unallowable Costs: Salary for others, consulting costs, alterations/renovations, space rental, consortium costs, dissertation defense fees, membership fees, faculty/mentor supervision costs
• Level of Effort: Candidate must devote at least 40 hours/week to the dissertation for at least 9 months
• Priority Populations: Applicants should address inclusion of AHRQ priority populations (e.g., minorities, rural, low-income, elderly, women, children, persons with disabilities)
• Review Criteria: Significance, investigator/mentor qualifications, innovation, approach, environment, inclusion of priority populations, and alignment with AHRQ priorities

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External Links

• AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36) – Full Announcement
• AHRQ Training and Education Programs
• AHRQ Priority Populations Policy
• AHRQ Grants Policy and Guidance
• SF424 (R&R) Application Guide
• NRSA Predoctoral Stipend Levels

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Contact Information

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