The OBSSR Strategic Plan is grounded in the principle of health equity. Health equity is achieved when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. BSSR can contribute to health equity by identifying and addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities and impede health and well-being for all people.
Health equity remains elusive in the United States,5 where there are persistent health disparities based on such factors as race/ethnicity, sex, sexual and gender minority status, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and geographic location. Many of these disparities stem from inequities across social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, play, live, and age, as well as the wider set of structural factors that shape daily life. BSSR plays a crucial role in examining SDOH, understanding the root causes of health disparities, identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disparities, and proposing strategies for achieving health equity.
OBSSR has a long history of supporting research initiatives that address health disparities, opportunities for underrepresented groups in scientific fields, improvements in research inclusivity, and policy matters affecting minoritized populations. We look forward to building on this research and collaborating with our NIH partners to promote and implement larger government initiatives that advance health equity, such as the recent Executive Order to accelerate research on women’s health.
Our emphasis on health equity aligns with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Equity Action Plan, which aims to ensure that all people, including underserved populations, have optimal opportunities to live healthy and thriving lives. OBSSR is committed to research that furthers all priorities of the plan to advance health equity, including:
- Preventing neglect and improving care to help children thrive in their families and communities
- Promoting accessible and welcoming health care for all
- Improving maternal health outcomes for rural, racial, and ethnic minority communities
- Prioritizing the behavioral health of underserved populations
- Increasing diversity in clinical trials and research to support innovation
5
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2024). Ending unequal treatment: Strategies to achieve equitable health care and optimal health for all. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27820
