Health Workforce Research Center (HWRC)

The Health Workforce Research Center opportunity is a federal grant program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program operates under the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis and is designed to strengthen the evidence base supporting health workforce policy and planning across the United States. Through a cooperative agreement structure, the program emphasizes collaboration between the federal government and award recipients to ensure that research outputs align with national, state, and local decision-making needs. The primary purpose of the program is to support research that helps policymakers and stakeholders better understand current and emerging health workforce needs. Funded centers are expected to conduct rigorous, policy-relevant studies that analyze workforce supply, demand, distribution, and access issues. These research efforts are intended to inform strategies that improve healthcare delivery systems, particularly in underserved and rural areas, and to guide investments in workforce training and development. Funding under this opportunity is structured to support multiple research centers, with an expected eleven awards issued. Each award falls within a defined funding range, allowing recipients to carry out multi-faceted research agendas. Funds are intended to support activities such as data analysis, policy evaluation, dissemination of findings, and collaboration with stakeholders. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible institutions and organizations. However, recipients are expected to adhere to federal grant management requirements and cooperative agreement expectations, including ongoing coordination with HRSA. Eligibility for this program is broad but focused on entities capable of conducting high-quality research. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state governments, and other qualified nonprofit entities such as academic health centers and public health or health professions schools. Workforce investment boards and other appropriate nonprofit organizations may also qualify, provided they meet the program’s criteria and demonstrate the capacity to conduct health workforce research. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically, with submissions required through the designated federal grants platform by the stated deadline. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive proposal that outlines their research objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and alignment with program priorities. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, standard federal grant requirements such as project narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation are expected. Applications must be submitted by the specified deadline time, which is set at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that it is currently in a forecasted stage, with an estimated application posting date in early January 2027 and a submission deadline in early March 2027. Awards are expected to be announced by late July 2027, with project activities beginning in September 2027. The program does not explicitly state whether it recurs annually, but the structured timeline and federal program context suggest a cyclical funding pattern tied to fiscal year appropriations. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact the program officer listed in the opportunity details. Direct communication is available via both phone and email, providing an avenue for clarification during the application preparation period. Overall, this program represents a significant federal investment in strengthening the analytical foundation of the U.S. health workforce system through coordinated research efforts.