Large Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB)(R18) | PA 22 048

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 22 048

The Large Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB) (R18) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 22 048) is a discretionary grant program run by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). It supports large, real-world demonstration and dissemination projects that focus on health services research approaches to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In practical terms, this mechanism is designed for projects that move beyond early-stage research and instead test, implement, scale, and spread evidence-based practices, tools, or system-level interventions that reduce antibiotic resistance risks and improve how health care organizations prevent, identify, and respond to antibiotic-resistant infections. The activity category is Health, and the associated CFDA number is 93.226.

This funding is aimed at applicants that are positioned to carry out applied, on-the-ground work across health care settings and communities, with an emphasis on implementation and spread rather than purely theoretical or laboratory-based research. Because it is an R18 demonstration and dissemination mechanism, the expectation is typically that funded projects will produce usable, transferable lessons, resources, and implementation strategies that other sites can adopt. Projects often involve multi-site partnerships, operational workflows, provider and patient-facing interventions, data-driven quality improvement, and dissemination plans that can reach health systems, public health partners, and other stakeholders who influence antibiotic use and infection prevention.

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic public and private entities. Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible, along with independent school districts. Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments are also included. The opportunity is also open to public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. Nonprofit organizations can apply whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, indicating that additional types of domestic organizations may qualify depending on the federal definitions used in the notice.

The announcement explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). It also notes that faith-based or community-based organizations may apply, along with regional organizations and eligible agencies of the federal government. Applicants from U.S. territories or possessions are also included as eligible. This mix of eligible entities reflects the program's intention to support projects that can be embedded in diverse delivery systems and communities, including organizations that serve populations disproportionately impacted by health care-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.

At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. While the text mentions "Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)" in a list of other eligible applicants, the later eligibility restriction states that non-U.S. entities and non-U.S. components are not eligible, so the controlling takeaway is that applicants must be U.S.-based and must conduct the work through domestic organizational components.

Key administrative details provided in the source include an original closing date of 2026-10-30 and a creation date for the opportunity record of 2021-10-21. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, which usually means applicants need to consult the full funding announcement for budget limits, anticipated award sizes, project periods, and any submission cycle information. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a vehicle for U.S. organizations to demonstrate and spread effective, scalable health services interventions that measurably strengthen antibiotic stewardship, infection prevention, and broader system performance in response to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Large Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB)(R18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

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