What agency aims to improve the quality of healthcare through research?

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the correct choice because its primary mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans. AHRQ conducts research that provides evidence-based information to help healthcare stakeholders, including providers and policymakers, make informed decisions that improve health care outcomes. Their focus is specifically on generating knowledge and insights that can be applied to raise the standards of care across various healthcare settings.

Other agencies mentioned have different primary focuses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predominantly work on disease prevention and public health, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is primarily concerned with the regulation of food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices to ensure their safety and efficacy. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) focuses on biomedical and health-related research, but its mandate is broader and more focused on discovery and research rather than specifically improving the quality of healthcare directly. Thus, the AHRQ stands out as the agency dedicated explicitly to the quality of healthcare through systematic research and quality improvement initiatives.