Exploratory and Developmental Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Exploratory and Developmental Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R21)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 08-269.

Which agency offers this grant?

This is a discretionary research grant offered through the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ).

What type of grant mechanism is this (and what does R21 imply)?

This opportunity uses the R21 mechanism, which is commonly intended for exploratory or developmental research. Based on the description provided, the expectation is short-term, early-stage work that generates evidence and reduces uncertainty before a larger, more expensive, real-world health IT effort is pursued.

What is the main goal of the opportunity?

The central focus is improving health care quality through health information technology (IT), specifically by funding preparatory work such as pilot studies, feasibility testing, and other exploratory research that can guide broader implementation or more comprehensive implementation research later.

What kinds of projects does this grant support?

The opportunity is designed to support early-stage, short-term projects that help organizations and research teams test ideas before moving into larger health IT efforts. Examples described include pilot studies, feasibility tests, and early evaluations intended to inform a later, larger study or implementation project.

What does "exploratory" or "developmental" mean in the context of this grant?

In this announcement, "exploratory" and "developmental" refers to research that is not yet ready for full-scale rollout and needs focused funding to answer key questions first. The aim is to generate practical evidence to strengthen the design of subsequent, larger projects.

Is this grant meant for full-scale implementation of health IT in real-world settings?

No. The purpose is described as narrowly targeted toward projects that are not yet ready for full-scale rollout. The funding is intended for preparatory work that informs later broader implementation or more comprehensive implementation research.

What types of questions are these projects expected to answer?

Based on the description, projects may explore topics such as how a health IT tool fits into clinical workflows, whether it can be used reliably in real care settings, what barriers or unintended consequences arise during initial use, and what outcomes or measurement strategies should be used in a larger follow-on study.

What funding activity area does this opportunity fall under?

It is categorized under the health funding activity area.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity, and what does it indicate?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.226, "Research on Healthcare Costs, Quality and Outcomes." This signals programmatic interest in connecting health IT to measurable improvements in care delivery and results.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $200,000, meaning this is the maximum funding level for an individual award under this announcement.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the grant.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple public and community-serving entities. The announcement lists eligible applicants such as state governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. It also specifies additional eligible applicant types, including certain eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, and Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, along with other categories referenced in the full announcement's eligibility section.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations included in eligibility?

Yes. The listing specifically includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also mentions Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized as additional eligible applicant types.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The announcement specifies faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicant types.

Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are state and local government entities eligible?

Yes. State governments and county governments are explicitly included in the eligibility list.

Is this opportunity still open for applications?

No. The dates provided indicate it is no longer active. It was originally posted on October 3, 2008, had an original closing date of November 16, 2011, a later current closing date of November 13, 2013, and it was archived on December 13, 2013.

Why are multiple closing dates listed?

The listing shows an original closing date (November 16, 2011) and a later current closing date (November 13, 2013), which indicates the opportunity timeline was extended or updated before it was ultimately archived.

Where can someone find the full announcement text?

The complete announcement text is available via the NIH grants guide at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-269.html

Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing or linking to the posting?

For technical access or linking issues, the listing directs inquiries to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.

Is the listed contact intended for programmatic questions about the grant?

No. The contact information provided is described as being primarily for troubleshooting access to the electronic posting, not for programmatic questions.

What is the overall intent of funding these early-stage studies?

The intent is for awardees to produce information that reduces uncertainty and strengthens the design of subsequent, larger research or implementation projects involving health IT, with an emphasis on improving health care quality.