Notice Number: NOT-HS-09-012

Key Dates
Release Date: September 1, 2009

Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (http://www.ahrq.gov)
Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships

This Notice announces AHRQ’s intention to publish a Demonstration Cooperative Agreement (U18) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications from organizations that propose to carry out community-based participatory research on the use of communication and information focused technologies (IT) for improving health status and functionality of, and health-related services provided to, older adults. Further, a related focus is on applied research, with the objective of developing sustainable and reproducible strategies that will translate research into practice effectively and efficiently.

This five year initiative has three broad strategic themes: 1) using IT to extend independence and functioning, as well as reduce unnecessary health care utilization by older adults; 2) using IT to place the individual and families at the center of expanded and more efficient service delivery networks; and 3) developing innovative approaches to translate evidence generated in the first two thematic areas into practice.

Research results are intended to enhance the independence and functionality of older adults through fundamental and applied research, development of tools, conduct of demonstration projects, educational program development and implementation, and evaluation and dissemination of results. This cooperative agreement initiative will support a broad, integrated, multidisciplinary, multi-project health services research program -- a center of excellence -- that will bring together strong teams of experienced and new researchers.

Publication and Receipt. The FOA is expected to be published by the end of calendar year 2009

Inquiries. Until the FOA is published, AHRQ cannot provide additional information on its content. General comments about AHRQ’s health IT program may be directed to:

Angela Lavanderos
Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships
Health Information Technology 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone: (301) 427-1505
Fax: (301) 427-1520
E-mail address:  Angela.Lavanderos@ahrq.hhs.gov