Policy Research Grant

The NIHCM Foundation Policy Research Grant program is a privately funded initiative designed to support rigorous, investigator-initiated research that informs health care policy in the United States. The foundation focuses on improving the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care by funding studies that generate actionable evidence for policymakers, health plans, and delivery systems. The program emphasizes solutions-oriented research that contributes to a stronger evidence base and supports strategies to improve the overall value of health care. It does not fund clinical trials, direct patient care, or bench science research, instead prioritizing policy-relevant analysis and data-driven insights. For the current funding cycle, the program seeks proposals that examine the drivers and consequences of rising health care spending. Research topics must align with one or more specified issue areas, including health care costs and quality, consolidation across the health system, the role of artificial intelligence, prescription drugs and emerging technologies, rural health systems, and maternal health outcomes. Across all topics, applicants are expected to explore how policies and interventions at the state or federal level affect cost, access, quality, and outcomes, and to propose findings that can inform practical improvements in the health care system. Funding is structured to support multiple projects, with a total funding pool of 500000 dollars available for the cycle and most individual awards in the 50000 dollar range. Budgets are expected to be efficient and aligned with project scope and anticipated impact. Allowable expenses include personnel salaries, fringe benefits, data acquisition, supplies, and subcontracting costs, as well as limited domestic travel for dissemination. Indirect costs are capped at 12 percent of the total budget excluding subcontracts. Certain expenses are explicitly disallowed, including patient care costs, capital purchases such as computers, international travel, lobbying, and additional administrative fees beyond standard overhead. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive. Applications are accepted from individual researchers as well as organizations across sectors, including nonprofit and for profit entities. Academic institutions, research organizations, and collaborative teams are all eligible to apply. Joint applications are permitted, provided one organization is designated as the primary applicant and others participate as subcontractors. There are no geographic restrictions within the United States, and applicants may submit multiple project ideas. The application process begins with a required letter of inquiry, which serves as a preliminary screening stage. Applicants must submit a structured LOI through the NIHCM online system, including a brief summary and a narrative description of the proposed study. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal of up to ten pages. The submission process is competitive, and only a subset of LOIs advance to the full proposal stage. Evaluation criteria emphasize the relevance of the research to policy, methodological rigor, feasibility, and the potential to generate timely and impactful findings. The program follows a defined timeline for the funding cycle. Letters of inquiry must be submitted by June 8, 2026. Full proposals are invited in early August 2026, with submissions due later that month. Award decisions are expected in December 2026, and funded projects may begin as early as January 2027. Projects are generally expected to produce results within one year, although longer timelines may be considered if interim outputs are feasible. Applicants are encouraged to design studies that yield actionable findings within a practical timeframe. For additional information or support during the application process, applicants may contact designated program staff. Cait Ellis is available for questions related to grant content and program details, while Mikayla Thompson provides technical assistance with the application system. Communication with these contacts is encouraged to ensure proper submission and alignment with program priorities.

Focus on policy relevance, cost impact, and feasibility; ensure strong alignment with priority issue areas and efficient budget design