Conducting Rural Health Research, Needs Assessments, and Program Evaluations – Funding & Opportunities
For additional funding options, please see RHIhub's Online Library: Funding & Opportunities
AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants (R18)
Supports the dissemination and implementation of research projects related to AHRQ's mission to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. AHRQ's priorities include an interest in frontier and rural healthcare delivery.
Supports the dissemination and implementation of research projects related to AHRQ's mission to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. AHRQ's priorities include an interest in frontier and rural healthcare delivery.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: May 26, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: May 26, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AHRQ Health Services Research Projects (R01)
Support for specified health services research projects related to AHRQ's mission to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. AHRQ's priorities include an interest in rural and frontier healthcare delivery.
Support for specified health services research projects related to AHRQ's mission to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable. AHRQ's priorities include an interest in rural and frontier healthcare delivery.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 6, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 6, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03)
Supports different types of health services research projects, including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology. Rural and frontier areas are considered a priority population.
Supports different types of health services research projects, including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology. Rural and frontier areas are considered a priority population.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Jul 17, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Research to Advance the Science of Primary Care (R01)
Funding to support research projects that advance the understanding of the role, capacity, and value of primary care to improve patient outcomes and population health.
Funding to support research projects that advance the understanding of the role, capacity, and value of primary care to improve patient outcomes and population health.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories
Application Deadline: Nov 6, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Application Deadline: Nov 6, 2029
Sponsors: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
PCORI Ambassador Program
A national volunteer network designed to engage the healthcare community in strengthening the patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) and increasing the dissemination of PCORI-funded​ research. PCORI supports research to give patients a better understanding of the prevention, treatment and care options available while considering potential for differences in treatment effectiveness among subpopulations, such as rural residents.
A national volunteer network designed to engage the healthcare community in strengthening the patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) and increasing the dissemination of PCORI-funded​ research. PCORI supports research to give patients a better understanding of the prevention, treatment and care options available while considering potential for differences in treatment effectiveness among subpopulations, such as rural residents.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
PCORI Engagement Award: Building Capacity for Small Organizations to Engage in Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research (CER)
Inactive
Funding and technical assistance to help small public and private organizations build the knowledge and skills necessary to engage as partners in patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research process. PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities.
Funding and technical assistance to help small public and private organizations build the knowledge and skills necessary to engage as partners in patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research process. PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
PCORI Engagement Award: Capacity Building
Inactive
Funds projects that build capacity for patients and others to engage with the healthcare community in all phases of future patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities.
Funds projects that build capacity for patients and others to engage with the healthcare community in all phases of future patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). PCORI funding interests include research for improved access and delivery of care for rural communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Letter of Intent (Required): Oct 1, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge: Research Capacity Building in Maternity Care Deserts
Inactive
Challenge designed to encourage and reward nonprofit community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, and state or federally recognized tribes to develop research capabilities and infrastructure to pursue research projects in maternal health, particularly of maternal morbidity and mortality.
Challenge designed to encourage and reward nonprofit community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, and state or federally recognized tribes to develop research capabilities and infrastructure to pursue research projects in maternal health, particularly of maternal morbidity and mortality.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Sep 23, 2026
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Application Deadline: Sep 23, 2026
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Funding: Broad Pragmatic Studies
Inactive
Funding for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research designed to to improve patient care and health outcomes. Populations of interest include residents of rural communities.
Funding for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research designed to to improve patient care and health outcomes. Populations of interest include residents of rural communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Required): Sep 9, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 12, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Letter of Intent (Required): Sep 9, 2026
Application Deadline: Jan 12, 2027
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06)
Inactive
Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support health-related research, research career enhancement, and research infrastructure enhancement activities to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support health-related research, research career enhancement, and research infrastructure enhancement activities to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jul 7, 2026
Application Deadline: Aug 7, 2026
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jul 7, 2026
Application Deadline: Aug 7, 2026
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services