Examining the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Healthcare Safety (R18) | PA 24 261

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 261

The grant opportunity "Examining the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Healthcare Safety (R18)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-24-261) is a discretionary grant from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) under CFDA 93.226. It is designed to fund research that strengthens healthcare safety by taking a hard look at how emerging, high-impact ("breakthrough") AI applications influence patient safety in real-world care and what it actually takes to implement and use these AI systems safely. The core idea is to move beyond broad claims that AI will improve care and instead generate evidence about when AI helps, when it introduces new safety risks, and how organizations can reduce patient harm and user burden when deploying AI in clinical settings.

The notice emphasizes two central research aims. First, applicants are expected to examine whether and how specific AI uses affect patient safety. That can include identifying safety benefits (for example, earlier detection of deterioration, fewer medication errors, improved diagnostic support) as well as safety hazards (such as biased predictions, automation complacency, incorrect recommendations, overreliance on imperfect models, workflow disruptions, or failure modes that only appear after deployment). Second, the opportunity calls for studies that clarify how AI can be implemented and used safely, which points to practical issues like governance, monitoring, human factors, training, workflow integration, transparency, accountability, and strategies to detect and mitigate harm over time. The framing recognizes that AI may improve safety, effectiveness, efficiency, access, and affordability, but it also stresses that these potential gains must be balanced against the risk of patient harm and the added workload or cognitive burden AI can create for clinicians, staff, and patients.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types across government, academia, and the private and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible agencies of the federal government. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) from applying, and it also states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Key administrative details from the source information include the opportunity title, number (PA-24-261), agency (AHRQ), funding instrument (grant), activity category (health), and an original closing date of 2027-05-25, with a creation date of 2024-07-16. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, which typically means applicants should consult the full notice for budget limits, project period expectations, and any submission cycles or review dates that may apply before the listed closing date.

Overall, this NOFO is aimed at building practical, safety-focused evidence about AI in healthcare: what it changes about patient risk, where it can fail, who might be disproportionately affected, and what safeguards, implementation practices, and ongoing monitoring are needed so AI can be integrated into care in a way that improves outcomes without creating new, avoidable harms or burdens.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Examining the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Healthcare Safety (R18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-25.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 24 261

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