AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36) | PA 23 196

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 23 196

The AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) designed to support doctoral candidates who are conducting dissertation research in health services research. The program is intended specifically for individuals whose research is being completed as part of an accredited academic program leading to a research doctorate degree, with the R36 serving as a mechanism to help fund and strengthen the dissertation project itself. In practical terms, this grant is aimed at helping emerging researchers complete rigorous, policy-relevant health services research during their doctoral training.

This funding opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Title "AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36)" with Funding Opportunity Number PA 23 196. It is offered as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and falls under the Health funding activity category, with CFDA number 93.226. The opportunity was created on 2023-05-03 and has an original closing date of 2028-05-06, indicating that applications may be accepted over an extended period according to the announcement's submission windows and rules.

Eligibility spans a wide range of U.S.-based organizations that can serve as applicants for the grant on behalf of the student researcher. Eligible applicant types include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and a variety of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education when categorized that way). The list also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The announcement also notes "Others" as an eligible applicant category, which typically signals that additional organization types may be eligible if they meet the specific criteria laid out in the full funding announcement and standard HHS/AHRQ grant rules.

At the same time, the announcement includes clear exclusions. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply. U.S. territories or possessions are also not eligible to apply under this opportunity. In addition, non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, which means a U.S.-based institution generally cannot route the project through a foreign component and still meet eligibility requirements. The text also explicitly states that certain institution categories are not eligible to apply, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized (in the specific context listed), regional organizations, and tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs). Because the notice also contains a broader eligible-applicant list that includes several nonprofit and tribal categories, anyone preparing an application should reconcile these statements by relying on the controlling eligibility language in the full FOA and, if needed, confirming with AHRQ program staff so the application is not ruled ineligible on a technicality.

Overall, the R36 is best understood as a dissertation-focused support mechanism intended to build capacity in health services research by funding doctoral candidates at the dissertation stage, through an eligible sponsoring institution, for research aligned with AHRQ's mission to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-05-06.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PA 23 196

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