Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

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Mission Statement

The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) is to enhance the impact of health-related BSSR:

  • Identifying gaps and opportunities for BSSR
  • Integrating BSSR within the larger NIH research enterprise
  • Developing and coordinating BSSR initiatives with the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs)
  • Communicating significant BSSR findings within NIH and beyond

Interest Areas

General Topics

Because behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR) provides valuable insights into human behavior—including how individuals and groups think, feel, behave, and interact—findings from BSSR can inform interventions and public health strategies to directly affect health outcomes. OBSSR interest areas include but are not limited to: 

  • Integrating and coordinating BSSR research across NIH
  • Building a cumulative BSSR knowledge base
  • Enhancing and connecting basic and applied BSSR
  • Refining BSSR measurement
  • Promoting novel experimental designs in the BSSR space
  • Advancing data analytics relevant to BSSR
  • Encouraging rigorous and innovative implementation and dissemination research methods
  • Promoting research that advances health for all

Highlighted Topics

Title Lead ICO Participating ICOs Posted Date Expiration Date

Funding Opportunities and Notices

Search for OBSSR’s funding opportunities and notices

ICO Funding Policies and Considerations

Visit NIH Fiscal Policies for NIH-wide information on appropriations and other budgetary information (salary limits, stipends, tuition/fees) and Funding Decisions to learn about NIH's consistent and unified approach for making funding decisions.

OBSSR Funding Policies and Considerations builds on that general information.

Additional Information by Funding Category

Administrative Supplements
In addition to our Administrative Supplements overview, consider the following OBSSR-specific information.
Administrative Supplement Interest Areas:

OBSSR will consider co-funding administrative supplements if the supplement request is consistent with current NIH guidance; the ICO administering the parent award agrees to accept it for consideration; and the supplement is relevant to the OBSSR mission. 

Research Education
In addition to our Research Education overview, consider the following OBSSR-specific information.
Research Education Interest Areas:
  • OBSSR supports a variety of training programs to encourage the use of innovative methods and approaches to enhance the research capabilities of investigators conducting health-relevant behavioral and social sciences research. 
  • OBSSR is also receptive to co-funding research education projects that align with our mission and strategic plan. 
Research Education Key Date Considerations:
  • OBSSR considers co-funding research education projects at any time during the funding cycle. 
Research Education Participants:
OBSSR prioritizes funding for participants in the following areas:
  • Undergraduate
  • Predoctoral
  • Postdoctoral/Residency
  • Early Career
  • Established Investigator
Research Education Project Period Considerations:
OBSSR may limit project periods for specific education activities, as follows:
  • OBSSR-specific research education programs are limited to four-year project periods. 
  • The project periods for co-funded research education programs are defined by the primary NIH institute. 
Research Education Budget Considerations:
OBSSR may limit budgets for specific education activities, as follows:

OBSSR-specific research education opportunities may have budget limits of $200,000 total costs. OBSSR will co-fund a broad range of research education opportunities with varied budgets. 

Research Education Personnel, Participant, and Other Program-Related Costs:
OBSSR may limit awarded budgets for personnel, participant, and other costs, as follows:

OBSSR does not limit awarded budgets for personnel, participant, or other program-related costs. 

Research Education Funding Instruments:
  • OBSSR does not award Research Education Cooperative Agreements (UE5)
  • OBSSR awards Research Education Grant Projects (R25)
Research Education Contacts:

[email protected] 

See Also

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

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