AHRQ Small Research Projects to Advance the Science of Primary Care (R03)

Scientific/research contact:
Aimee R. Eden, PhD, MPH
301.427.1888
Aimee.eden@ahrq.hhs.gov

Peer review contact:
DSR@ahrq.hhs.gov

Financial and grants management contact:
Kathryn Woolridge
301.427.1025
kathryn.woolridge@ahrq.hhs.gov

AHRQ will provide funding to support small research projects that advance the role and capacity of primary care to increase the value and quality of care and improve patient outcomes and population health.

Specific areas of research interest include:

• Coordination of care across settings and providers, with attention to healthcare disparities and patients with multiple chronic conditions
• Person-centered, whole person healthcare delivery that addresses social determinants of health
• Primary care workforce issues, including approaches to support, develop, retain, and grow this workforce and further understanding and improvement of burnout, moral injury, and well-being
• External supports, composition, and configurations of primary care teams and their effect on the effectiveness, efficiency, and experience of care and health outcomes
• The impact of financing models on the ability of primary care to deliver quality care
• Community-based and public health partnerships
• Organization of primary care within healthcare systems and public health, and its impact on performance
• Behavioral health integration within primary care
• The role of primary care in response to pandemics, natural and man-made disasters, climate change, and other national health emergencies
• Meaningful quality measures applicable to the primary care setting
• Measurement of key aspects of primary care, such as "comprehensiveness" or "team performance"
• The use of digital healthcare (including electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, and telehealth) to improve the delivery of high-quality primary care

Priority populations include:

• Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color
• Members of religious minorities
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons
• People with disabilities
• People who live in rural areas
• Women, children, elderly individuals, and those with special healthcare needs
• People who need end-of-life healthcare
• Persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality

Eligible applicants include:

• Local, city, county, state, special district, and territorial governments or their bona fide agents
• Federally recognized native American tribal governments
• American Indian or Alaska native tribal governments (federally recognized or state-recognized)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments
• Government organizations
• American Indian or Alaska native tribally designated organizations
• Independent school districts
• Public, state controlled, and private institutions of higher education
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS
• For-profit organizations
• Small businesses

Award ceiling: $100,000
Project period: 2 years

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.

While not required, potential applicants are encouraged to email a letter of intent to Aimee R. Eden, PhD, MPH at least 30 days prior to applying.

Standard NIH application due dates for new R03 applications apply to this funding opportunity. The opportunity expires on March 19, 2027.