The National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, USA have announced the availability of grants for understanding and promoting health literacy under its RO3 funding mechanism. The projects to be funded must be of two years duration with a budget of up to US$50,000 per year. The goal of the program is to increase scientific understanding of the nature of health literacy and its relationship to healthy behaviors, illness prevention and treatment and chronic disease management. It also aims to create greater understanding of health disparities, risk assessment, of environmental factors, and health outcomes, including mental and oral health. The programme is open to for-profit or non-profit organizations, public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, units of state and local governments, domestic or foreign institutions/ organizations as well as faith-based or community-based organizations. Potential applicants are advised to make contact with the Institutes prior to submitting letters of intent. The deadline for letters of intent is September 13, 2004 while the deadline for full application is October 13, 2004. For further information please contact the Office of Sponsored Research at telephone 970-3175.