Opportunity Information: Apply for CMS 1W1 23 001

The Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act. Its core aim is to fund health equity-focused health services research that produces clear, practical results, specifically research that can directly and demonstrably improve health outcomes for people across all minority populations. The program is positioned as a way to strengthen evidence that can be used to make real-world improvements in how health care is delivered, how systems respond to patient needs, and how inequities in outcomes can be reduced.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) emphasizes innovative research, meaning projects should go beyond describing problems and instead generate actionable insights, methods, or interventions that meaningfully affect health outcomes. A notable priority within the program is research that targets health disparities at the health care system level. In other words, CMS is looking for work that examines how policies, clinical workflows, access barriers, financing, care coordination, quality measures, and other system features contribute to unequal outcomes, and how those structures can be improved to reduce disparities rather than unintentionally reinforcing them.

The MRGP also highlights interest in the drivers of health-related social needs and encourages the characterization and inferential analysis of the factors associated with those needs. This signals a focus on research that not only documents social and structural challenges affecting health (such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, or financial strain), but also applies stronger analytic approaches to understand relationships, mechanisms, and potential levers for change. The overall intent is to build a more rigorous evidence base that helps explain why disparities persist and what can be changed at the system or program level to improve equity in care and outcomes.

Eligibility is limited to specific categories of minority-serving institutions. Eligible applicants include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHs), Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The source information also lists higher education institutions broadly (public/state-controlled and private), but the NOFO language makes clear that eligibility is tied to these minority-serving designations. An individual institution is allowed to submit more than one application as long as each proposal is scientifically distinct, which creates room for campuses or research centers to propose multiple independent projects rather than being limited to a single submission.

Key administrative details from the opportunity record include the funding opportunity number (CMS-1W1-23-001) and the CFDA number 93.779, with funding provided through a grant mechanism. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000, and CMS anticipated making approximately three awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted May 11, 2023, with an original closing date of July 12, 2023. Overall, MRGP is designed to support minority-serving institutions in producing health services research that can inform policies and practices aimed at reducing disparities and improving health outcomes across minority populations, with a particular emphasis on system-level change and the determinants connected to health-related social needs.

  • The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.779.
  • This funding opportunity was created on May 11, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for CMS 1W1 23 001

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Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP) FAQs

What is the Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP)?

The Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It supports health equity-focused health services research intended to produce clear, practical results that can directly and demonstrably improve health outcomes across minority populations.

Which federal agency sponsors this grant opportunity?

The program is sponsored by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) within HHS (the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

What is the legal authority for MRGP?

MRGP is authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act.

What is the main goal of MRGP-funded research?

The core aim is to fund health equity-focused health services research that generates actionable evidence and practical outcomes that can be used to improve how health care is delivered, how systems respond to patient needs, and how inequities in outcomes can be reduced for minority populations.

What kinds of research does the NOFO emphasize?

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) emphasizes innovative research that goes beyond describing problems and instead produces actionable insights, methods, or interventions that meaningfully affect health outcomes.

What does MRGP mean by "innovative research" in this NOFO?

In this NOFO, innovative research is positioned as work that does more than document disparities. CMS is looking for research that generates usable approaches, strategies, or interventions with practical relevance and the potential to create measurable improvements in outcomes.

Is there a priority focus on system-level health disparities?

Yes. A notable priority is research that targets health disparities at the health care system level, including how system structures may contribute to unequal outcomes and how those structures can be improved to reduce disparities rather than unintentionally reinforcing them.

What are examples of system-level topics CMS is interested in?

The NOFO highlights system features such as policies, clinical workflows, access barriers, financing, care coordination, and quality measures, and how these may contribute to disparities in outcomes or be modified to reduce inequities.

Does MRGP support research related to health-related social needs?

Yes. MRGP highlights interest in the drivers of health-related social needs and encourages research that characterizes those needs and uses inferential analysis to understand factors associated with them.

What does the NOFO mean by focusing on the "drivers" of health-related social needs?

It signals interest in research that not only documents social and structural challenges affecting health (such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, or financial strain), but also applies stronger analytic approaches to understand relationships, mechanisms, and potential levers for change.

What is meant by "characterization and inferential analysis" in this opportunity?

Based on the NOFO language, CMS is encouraging research that describes health-related social needs and also uses inferential methods to evaluate associated factors, relationships, and mechanisms in a way that strengthens evidence about what contributes to disparities and what could be changed.

Who is eligible to apply for MRGP?

Eligibility is limited to specific categories of minority-serving institutions. Eligible applicants include:

  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)
  • Asian American and Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
  • Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
  • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHs)
  • Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs)
  • Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs)

Does the opportunity allow higher education institutions to apply?

The source information lists higher education institutions broadly (public/state-controlled and private), but the NOFO language makes clear that eligibility is tied to the minority-serving institutional designations listed in the opportunity description.

Can an institution submit more than one application?

Yes. An individual institution may submit more than one application as long as each proposal is scientifically distinct. This allows separate campuses or research centers within the same institution to propose multiple independent projects.

What is the funding opportunity number for this NOFO?

The funding opportunity number is CMS-1W1-23-001.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 93.779.

What type of funding mechanism is used?

Funding is provided through a grant mechanism.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) under this opportunity?

The award ceiling listed in the opportunity record is $1,000,000.

How many awards did CMS anticipate making?

CMS anticipated making approximately three awards under this announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2023.

What was the original application closing date?

The original closing date listed was July 12, 2023.

What is the overall intent of MRGP in terms of impact?

MRGP is intended to help minority-serving institutions produce health services research that strengthens the evidence base for policies and practices aimed at reducing disparities and improving health outcomes across minority populations, with particular emphasis on system-level change and determinants connected to health-related social needs.

What makes MRGP different from research that only documents disparities?

Based on the NOFO emphasis, MRGP prioritizes projects that generate practical, actionable evidence. The program is positioned to support work that can inform real-world changes in health care delivery and systems, rather than research that only describes inequities without identifying interventions or system improvements.

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