18 Dec 2025

AHRQ Grants 2026: Advancing Patient Safety and Health System Improvement

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the federal agency dedicated to making healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable.

As AHRQ enters the 2026 grant cycle, its focus continues to shift from isolated quality initiatives toward system-level improvement, emphasizing how care is coordinated, delivered, and evaluated across complex healthcare environments.

For hospitals, health systems, nonprofits, and research institutions, AHRQ grants offer a unique opportunity to fund practical, implementation-focused solutions that improve patient outcomes in real-world settings.

Strategic Funding Priorities

AHRQ's funding priorities are centered on improving healthcare delivery through systems thinking and operational excellence. Key focus areas include:

AHRQ Grants 2026 Patient Safety, Care Coordination Guide

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Reducing preventable harm, medical errors, and safety events across care settings.

Care Coordination and Transitions of Care

Improving communication and continuity across providers, teams, and organizations.

Health Systems and Workforce Resilience

Addressing clinician burnout, workflow inefficiencies, and system-level stressors.

Health IT and Data for Quality Improvement

Using digital tools to support safer care, better decision-making, and measurable outcomes.

Across all programs, AHRQ prioritizes implementation, scalability, and measurable improvement, rather than purely theoretical research.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

AHRQ funding is available to a broad range of organizations, including:

  • Hospitals and integrated health systems
  • Academic medical centers and universities
  • Nonprofit healthcare organizations
  • Health services research organizations
  • Public and private entities improving care delivery

Many AHRQ opportunities encourage multi-site collaboration and partnerships between healthcare providers, researchers, and operational teams.

Funding Scale and Duration

  • Grant Size: Typically ranges from $300,000 to $3 million, depending on the funding mechanism (R01, R18, U-series, or cooperative agreements)
  • Duration: Most projects span 2–4 years, with structured milestones and progress reporting
  • Funding Focus: Emphasis on applied research, implementation, and system improvement rather than basic science

(Source: AHRQ funding opportunity summaries and prior award data)

Real-World Funding Initiatives

Patient Safety Learning Systems

AHRQ has funded initiatives that help healthcare organizations identify safety risks, improve reporting, and implement learning systems that reduce harm.

Inputs Demonstrated:

  • Cross-team coordination
  • Standardized workflows
  • Data-driven safety monitoring

Impact:

Reduced adverse events, improved staff communication, and safer care environments.

Care Coordination and Transitions of Care

AHRQ-funded programs have focused on improving handoffs between inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.

Inputs Demonstrated:

  • Shared care workflows
  • Referral tracking
  • Communication across organizations

Impact:

Lower readmissions, improved patient experience, and better continuity of care.

2026 Outlook: Systems-Based Improvement

AHRQ is expected to continue prioritizing:

  • System-level patient safety interventions
  • Digital tools that support coordination and learning
  • Workforce-centered design improvements
  • Measurement frameworks tied to real-world outcomes

How to Apply

Explore Active Funding Opportunities

AHRQ funding announcements are published on:

Application Portal:

Grants.gov (primary submission portal for all AHRQ funding opportunities)

Applicants should search using keywords such as:

  • "AHRQ patient safety"
  • "Care coordination"
  • "Health systems improvement"

Application Timeline (Typical)

While each Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) varies, most AHRQ grants follow this general timeline:

  • FOA Release: October–December 2025
  • Application Due Date: January–February 2026
  • Peer Review: Spring 2026
  • Award Announcements: Summer 2026
  • Project Start Date: Fall 2026

Applicants should always confirm exact dates within the specific FOA.

Prepare and Submit Your Proposal

Strong AHRQ proposals clearly define:

  • The healthcare problem and patient safety risk
  • How the intervention improves coordination or system performance
  • Implementation workflows across teams
  • Measurement plans tied to patient outcomes
  • Sustainability beyond the grant period

Applications are submitted electronically via Grants.gov and managed through NIH eRA Commons systems.

Building a Competitive AHRQ Proposal

To be competitive in the 2026 cycle, applicants should:

  • Focus on real-world implementation, not theory
  • Demonstrate how teams coordinate care in practice
  • Address workflow efficiency and staff experience
  • Show readiness for multi-site or system-wide adoption
  • Include clear metrics for safety, quality, and outcomes

AHRQ reviewers place strong emphasis on feasibility, scalability, and operational clarity.

Care Coordination, Measurement, and Reporting with Pillar by SocialRoots.ai

AHRQ-funded initiatives require consistent coordination across care teams and clear visibility into outcomes.

Pillar by SocialRoots.ai supports AHRQ-aligned programs by enabling:

  • Shared care coordination across providers and community partners
  • Closed-loop tracking of referrals and care activities
  • Reduced reliance on manual spreadsheets and email workflows
  • Real-time visibility into engagement and follow-through
  • Simplified reporting aligned with federal evaluation expectations

By strengthening coordination infrastructure, Pillar helps organizations translate safety and quality initiatives into sustained system improvement.

Conclusion: Building Safer Systems, Not Isolated Solutions

AHRQ's 2026 grant portfolio reflects a clear message:

Safer care emerges from better systems, not isolated interventions.

Organizations that invest in coordination, measurement, and scalable infrastructure will be better positioned to meet AHRQ's expectations — and to deliver lasting improvements in patient safety and care quality.

By pairing strong clinical initiatives with modern operational platforms like Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, applicants can demonstrate readiness to turn funding into measurable, system-wide impact.

Scroll