AHRQ Mentored Research Scientist Research Career Development Award (K01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): AHRQ Mentored Research Scientist Research Career Development Award (K01)

What is the AHRQ Mentored Research Scientist Research Career Development Award (K01)?

The AHRQ K01 is a federal grant program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). It is designed to develop the next generation of independent health services researchers by providing mentored career development support, including funding and protected time for research training and supervised research.

What is the main purpose of this K01 program?

The central goal is career preparation. The program supports qualified individuals in building the skills, publication record, mentorship network, and research trajectory needed to become independent investigators whose work measurably improves the U.S. health care system.

Which federal agency runs this opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

What kinds of research does the AHRQ K01 prioritize?

The program emphasizes health services research that advances the quality, safety, efficiency, equity, and overall effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Projects and training plans are expected to connect to real-world health care delivery and outcomes rather than purely basic or laboratory science.

Is this award more like a research project grant or a career development award?

It is primarily a mentored career-building award rather than a standalone research project grant. The focus is on developing the applicant into an independent health services researcher through structured mentorship, dedicated research time, and a focused career development plan.

What does "mentored" mean in the context of this K01?

A defining feature of this mechanism is an intensive, supervised career development experience. Recipients are expected to work under the guidance of an experienced mentor or mentoring team while they build research skills, conduct supervised research, and publish in preparation for independence.

Does the award provide protected time for research?

Yes. The award is intended to provide funding and protected time so the recipient can devote substantial professional effort to research training, conducting mentored research, publishing, and building toward independent investigator status.

Who is the program intended to support?

The program targets individuals who already hold a research doctoral degree and want structured, supervised development in health services research.

Can the K01 support someone who is newly entering health services research?

Yes. The opportunity can support people who are newly entering health services research and need concentrated training to re-orient their expertise toward health care delivery and systems-focused research questions.

Can someone apply if they have had a break or hiatus in their research career?

Yes. The program explicitly accommodates applicants who have experienced a research career hiatus due to illness or family circumstances, offering a supported pathway to re-enter and rebuild momentum.

How does this opportunity relate to research workforce diversity?

The program is positioned as a tool to strengthen research workforce diversity by offering enhanced career development opportunities. This reflects AHRQ's interest in broadening participation and supporting an investigator community that better represents and addresses the needs of diverse populations and communities.

What training areas are commonly relevant for applicants?

The description highlights training that often includes study design, advanced quantitative or qualitative methods, health economics, implementation science, health equity research, patient safety measurement, comparative effectiveness, outcomes research, or evaluation of health systems and policy.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-16-223.

What type of grant is this categorized as?

It is listed as a discretionary grant and is in the health funding activity area.

When was this funding opportunity posted?

The posting and creation date listed for the announcement is May 5, 2016.

What is the closing date listed in the provided information?

The closing date shown in the provided data is November 11, 2019.

Does the summary information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The summary data provided does not include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Based on the summary alone, applicants would typically need to consult the full funding announcement for budget structure, allowed costs, effort expectations, and related constraints.

What does the listed eligibility category mean?

The eligibility category is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates that eligibility details are defined in the full announcement rather than being limited to a simple list of institution types in the summary record.

What should an applicant expect to build during the award period?

Based on the description, the award supports building key elements associated with independence, including stronger research skills, a track record of publications, a well-developed mentorship network, and a coherent research trajectory tied to improving health care delivery, measurement, and equity.

How should a proposed plan connect to AHRQ's mission?

Projects and training plans should be framed around improving how care is delivered and evaluated in real-world settings, with relevance to quality, safety, efficiency, equity, and the effectiveness of the U.S. health care system.