Celebrating 30 Years of OBSSR
Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research and Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
National Institutes of Health
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the official opening of OBSSR at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1995. Our office was created by Congress in 1993 to identify, coordinate, and advance behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR) across NIH. The office’s formation underscored the essential role of BSSR in improving public health and shaping the way we approach scientific discovery.
Although behavioral and social sciences have always been part of the NIH mission, the office has been instrumental in accelerating these sciences and coordinating them within the NIH research enterprise. BSSR addresses the behavioral and social determinants that also shape health outcomes. Achieving NIH’s mission of enhancing health requires an integrated approach—one that combines biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences—to develop more effective, comprehensive solutions.
30th Anniversary Events
Join us in person and online for events celebrating our 30th anniversary. Check back, as events will be announced throughout the year.
Director’s Webinar with Michael Platt
Spring 2025
Director’s Webinar with Robbee Wedow
June 30, 2025, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET
Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors
Summer 2025
Director’s Webinar with Eileen Crimmins
September 24, 2025, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Festival
Fall 2025
Stay Connected with Us
Sign up for the OBSSR mailing list to receive updates on anniversary events, materials, and more.
A Timeline of OBSSR History and Milestones
Discover some of the significant moments in OBSSR history over the past 30 years.
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
Behavioral and social sciences research is essential to NIH’s mission. OBSSR’s Strategic Plan capitalizes on our unique coordinating role, highlighting scientific priorities that transcend specific diseases and conditions, address critical areas, and fulfill the needs of NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices.