[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 159 (Friday, August 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 47952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18671]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Request for Planning Ideas for Development of an AHRQ Innovations 
Research Portfolio

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Ideas.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ is establishing a new research portfolio, the Innovations 
Portfolio. The Portfolio goal is to identify and support research that 
has the potential to accelerate improvements in the organization, 
delivery, and management of healthcare. AHRQ seeks ideas on priority 
topics and activities that should be addressed as components of the 
Innovations Portfolio.

DATES: Please submit comments no later than October 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submissions should be brief (no more than three pages per 
recommendation), and should be in the form of a letter or e-mail, 
preferably with an electronic file in a standard word processing format 
as an e-mail attachment. Responses to this request should be submitted 
to Francis D. Chesley, Jr., M.D., Agency for Health Care Research and 
Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Room 2034, Rockville, MD 20850, FAX: (301) 
427-1562, e-mail: [email protected].
    In order to facilitate handling of submissions, please include full 
information about the person submitting the recommendation: (a) Name, 
(b) title; (c) organization, (d) mailing address, (e) telephone number, 
and (f) e-mail address. Please do not use acronyms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francis D. Chesley, Jr., M.D., (301) 
427-1449 or at [email protected]. All responses will be 
available for public inspection at AHRQ's Office of Extramural 
Research, Education, and Priority Populations weekdays between 8:30 
a.m. and 5 p.m. Arrangements for reviewing the submissions may be made 
by calling (301) 427-1449.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Innovations Portfolio is focused on creating resources and 
opportunity for exploration and discovery. The Innovations Portfolio 
was created to identify and support research that has the potential for 
high impact. These ideas will be novel and span a diverse array of 
disciplines. The portfolio will foster and nurture ideas and projects 
that have the potential to lead to highly innovative solutions that may 
lead to significant advances in healthcare organization, delivery, and 
management. Research and activities supported under the Innovations 
Portfolio will reflect ideas substantially different from those already 
being pursued by AHRQ. The portfolio will fund a transformative 
research agenda to solve pressing healthcare problems. Thus, the main 
focus of the portfolio is problem solving in order to accelerate 
improvement in healthcare.
    Ideas are sought for topics to be supported by the Innovations 
Portfolio. Ideas are also sought regarding specific strategies to 
foster innovative approaches and programs. Comments and ideas may 
address new and emerging priority issues and areas that should be the 
focus of research in the Innovations Portfolio, mechanisms for 
identifying and engaging partners for this important work, or any 
related topic.

    Dated: August 4, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8-18671 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M