The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Requests Nominations from Populations Underrepresented in Medicine to Serve as Peer Reviewers

On September 21, 2022, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a request for nominations. The public should nominate individuals from populations underrepresented in medicine to serve as members to the AHRQ Initial Review Group (IRG). The IRG is responsible for the scientific peer review of AHRQ grant applications and is comprised of study sections, each with a particular research focus. These AHRQ grants support health services research and training. Nominations are also welcomed from minority-serving institutions, academic health centers, community-based organizations, professional societies, or other state and federal agencies.

Interested individuals may nominate themselves, and organizations—including UIOs—and individuals may nominate one or more qualified persons for study section membership. Nominations should be received on or before December 31, 2022. Nominations should be submitted by email to dsr@ahrq.hhs.gov. All nominations must be submitted electronically, and should include:

1. A copy of the nominee’s current curriculum vitae and contact information, including mailing address, phone number, and email address.
2. Preferred study section assignment.

Background

The AHRQ is one of the twelve operating divisions of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The purpose of the “AHRQ [is to] develop[] the knowledge, tools, and data needed to improve the healthcare system and help consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed health decisions.” Consequently, the AHRQ focuses on investing in healthcare research, creating training materials, and generating measures/data. For the fiscal year of 2022, the AHRQ has an operating budget of $455.4 million.

Scope of the Initial Review Group

The AHRQ IRG conducts scientific and technical review for health services research and training grant applications. AHRQ is specifically encouraging the nomination of individuals from populations underrepresented in medicine to serve on the AHRQ IRG in order to foster a diversity of viewpoints among its members. The IRG is comprised of five subcommittees and nominations for each of the subcommittees should be based on the peer reviewer’s expertise.

1. Health Care Effectiveness and Outcomes Research: End-stage renal disease; cardiovascular disease; pediatrics; pharmacologist in opioid management; biostatisticians in health services research; health disparities and social determinants of health.
2. Healthcare Information Technology Research: Biomedical and consumer health informatics; family medicine; health care data analysis; health information technology; health services research in patient-oriented research; electronic health record and data for research; population-based studies in medicine; epidemiology; telehealth/telemedicine; emergency medicine; insurance benefit design; chronic condition care; natural language processing and machine learning; social networking and its determinants of health; health disparities and social determinants of health.
3. Healthcare Systems and Value Research: Health statistics; health care outcome research; evaluation and survey methods; health system and service research; health care policy research; health economics research; large database analysis; private health insurance/Medicaid and Medicare; learning laboratory development; health disparities and social determinants of health.
4. Healthcare Systems and Value Research: Health statistics; health care outcome research; evaluation and survey methods; health system and service research; health care policy research; health economics research; large database analysis; private health insurance/Medicaid and Medicare; learning laboratory development; health disparities and social determinants of health.
5. Healthcare Safety and Quality Improvement Research: Pharmacists with expertise in informatics; infectious diseases specialists; geriatricians; surgeons with a specialty in diagnostic error; health disparities and social determinants of health.