PA-23-291
AHRQ Understanding and Improving Diagnostic Safety in Ambulatory Care: Incidence and Contributing Factors (R01)
Summary
AHRQ Understanding and Improving Diagnostic Safety in Ambulatory Care: Incidence and Contributing Factors (R01)
Research Focus
This program seeks research on diagnostic error—defined as failure to establish an accurate, timely explanation of a patient's health problem or communicate that explanation—in ambulatory care settings. Diagnostic errors affect at least 12 million U.S. residents annually and contribute to at least 10% of patient deaths per year, yet most diagnostic safety research has focused on hospital-based settings rather than the heterogeneous ambulatory environment (primary care, urgent care, emergency medicine, telemedicine, mental health care, dental care, and others). The funder prioritizes studies that quantify incidence and identify contributing factors of diagnostic error across ambulatory care services, with particular emphasis on understanding disparities related to age, race/ethnicity, sex/gender, social determinants of health, disability, and multimorbidity. Research should address bias (systematic deviation from true diagnosis) and random error (lack of precision/repeatability) using health services research methods to generate foundational epidemiologic and mechanistic data.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: Research institutions and their investigators (no specific career-stage restrictions stated)
- Funding & project length: Not stated; standard R01 mechanisms apply
- Award mechanism: R01 Research Project Grant
- Key dates: First application due February 5, 2024 (now expired; limited case-by-case acceptance possible); peer review ~4 months after receipt
- Best fit for: Health services researchers, epidemiologists, and clinicians studying diagnostic processes, patient safety, and healthcare quality in outpatient settings; mixed-methods and quantitative approaches examining error incidence, risk factors, and health equity
Note: This opportunity expired March 10, 2026. Contact the eRA Service Desk regarding late submissions under NIH continuous submission policies. Check the NIH Guide for active diagnostic safety funding opportunities.
Key Facts
Deadline
Thu, July 6, 2028
Posted
Tue, August 22, 2023
Award / Year (direct costs)
$250,000
Max Total
$1,250,000
Max Duration
5 years
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (4)
This NOFO has expired as of March 10, 2026, though applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis for a short period after expiration under limited NIH late/continuous submission policies.
100%
Source Text
“This notice has expired. For NIH, in limited situations, applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis for a short period after expiration to accommodate NIH late or continuous submission policies. Contact the eRA Service Desk for any submission issues.”
Program-specific instructions in this NOFO override the standard SF424 (R&R) Application Guide instructions, and non-compliance may result in application delay or rejection.
98%
Source Text
“It is critical that applicants follow the Research (R) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Contracts). When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.”
AHRQ may have different page limits than NIH for the Research Strategy section, and applicants must follow AHRQ-specific guidance when it differs from general NIH guidance.
95%
Source Text
“Also note that AHRQ may have different page limits than NIH for the application Research Strategy, which can be found within each individual NOFO.”
Applicants must also follow AHRQ Grants Policy and Guidance found on the AHRQ website, in addition to the NOFO and Application Guide, creating a three-part compliance requirement.
90%
Source Text
“Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV and follow the AHRQ Grants Policy and Guidance found on the AHRQ website at http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/nofoguidance/index.html.”