This solicitation expired March 14, 2008, 12:00 a.m. EDT.

Program Area:

Quality/Equality

Purpose:

“How will we know that change is an improvement?” is a core question of one of the most commonly-used models for continuous quality improvement (CQI), the process-based, data-driven approach to improving the quality of a product or service through iterative action-evaluation cycles. For health care practitioners, researchers and funders this question applies in a broader context: How can we tell whether an initiative that uses the theory and methods of CQI to improve health outcomes has worked; how, and what, do we learn from these initiatives; and how do we know whether a successful initiative will work in other organizations?

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has joined in a national effort to advance the science of CQI research, and is currently seeking proposals that:

• develop methods, tools and standards for the design, conduct and reporting of CQI research and evaluations, including standardized typologies, definitions and measures of key concepts and consensus statements;
• demonstrate how the paradigms, methods and approaches from other disciplines can advance the science of CQI research;
• develop and test new theoretical models, conceptual frameworks and logic models to explain CQI initiatives;
• demonstrate how rapid-cycle “run-chart” or “PDSA-cycle” data can be used to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of CQI interventions implemented to address key quality challenges; and/or
• develop methods to systematically capture implementation context information.

Proposals that address other issues that will advance the science of CQI research as it applies to health and health care will also be accepted.

Program Information:

• Call for Proposals

Total Awards:

This initiative will support a range of projects, whose sum value is not to exceed $1 million. Each research team should submit a budget of no more than $300,000 for a time period of no more than three years. Projects that cost less and with shorter durations (e.g., $50,000 over one year) will have a higher likelihood of being funded than larger projects.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to apply, and multidisciplinary teams are welcome. Preference may be given to applicant organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a). Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories.

Brief proposals will be reviewed by a diverse group of researchers and stakeholders and evaluated based on the usefulness of the work to advance the science of CQI research as it applies to health and health care. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals for funding consideration. Full proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Likelihood of impact on the science of CQI research.
• Clarity of aims and ability to address key knowledge or methodological gaps.
• Strength of methods and measures proposed.
• Clarity and generalizability of research results and products.
• Demonstrated experience, skill and capacity to complete the project on schedule.
• Researchers may be new to the fields of health and/or CQI research.

Key Dates:

• February 6, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)—An informational applicant conference call was held and provided an overview of this solicitation and offered an opportunity to ask questions.  
  Listen to an archive recording of the call.
  Download remarks from the applicant conference call.
  During the call, reference was made to a research and evaluation report on CQI in health care.
• March 14, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals.
• Early May 2008—Applicants notified if invited to submit a full proposal.
• June 6, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals.
• September 1, 2008—Grants begin.

Contact:

Tim Crowley, Administrative Coordinator
CQIresearch@rwjf.org

Related Materials:

• View Program FAQs