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.
The evolution and expansion of BSSR has transformed how we understand, prevent, and treat various health conditions. From reducing chronic diseases through behavior change to advancing mental health interventions, BSSR has driven meaningful progress. OBSSR is helping to improve health outcomes and shape a healthier future by continuing to examine the many behavioral and societal influences behind complex health challenges.
Over the past three decades, OBSSR has been a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together researchers through coordinating committees, and working groups across NIH to enhance the integration of BSSR into broader scientific efforts. Our office organizes workshops, supports NIH staff and extramural investigators, co-funds research, and strengthens training programs for the next generation of BSSR scientists. Through this work and more, OBSSR promotes innovation, collaboration, and engagement in BSSR within NIH and beyond.
I am deeply grateful to all OBSSR staff—past and present—for their significant contributions over the past 30 years. I also appreciate the support from scientific and professional communities, as well as the public, in advancing our mission. It is truly an honor to lead an office that has so greatly influenced the field of BSSR, helping to accelerate scientific discovery, create new treatment and health promotion interventions, and develop better implementation strategies that improve health for everyone.
Throughout 2025, we will commemorate OBSSR’s 30th anniversary with events, Director’s Spotlights, and a journal article highlighting the office’s impact and future directions. Stay tuned for more details on opportunities to join the celebration!
To learn more about our upcoming anniversary events and activities, sign up for OBSSR’s mailing list and visit OBSSR.od.nih.gov/30years.
