NIH OBSSR Director’s Webinar—The Fabric of Aging in Mexico: Patterns and Potential

Join OBSSR on July 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET for a presentation by Dr. Rebeca Wong, who will explore the features of population aging in Mexico. She will discuss findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), a 20+ year longitudinal study. Dr. Wong will examine evidence-based patterns in physical and cognitive function, chronic conditions, and social/economic resilience, highlighting the critical roles of childhood conditions, U.S. migration, employment, and family support in old age. Additionally, she will provide an overview of the pressing needs and potential for future research based on these themes.

This Director’s Webinar is a Norman B. Anderson Memorial Lecture. Norman B. Anderson, Ph.D., the first Director of OBSSR, was a pioneering figure in behavioral and social sciences research. In recognition of Dr. Anderson’s profound impact on behavioral and social sciences research, OBSSR hosts a lecture each year to honor his legacy.

Register for the Webinar

NIH Workshop on How to Address the Impacts of Structural Racism on Health

NIH UNITE is convening researchers, clinicians, and community partners on July 18–19, 2024, for a workshop on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understanding and Addressing Structural Racism and Health.

This virtual event will bring together researchers and clinicians in many fields—including social and natural sciences, law and criminal justice, education, public policy, and social work, as well as biomedical, behavioral, and public health—to identify recommendations for (1) addressing what is known about structural racism and health and (2) collaboratively approaching solutions.

Register for the Workshop

Applications Are Now Open for the 2024-2025 NIH Climate and Health Scholars Program

The NIH Climate and Health Scholars Program seeks to bring climate and health scientists from outside the U.S. federal government to NIH to share their knowledge and expertise. The program’s goal is for climate and health scientists to support NIH in developing a stronger climate and health knowledge base in the areas of the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative’s Strategic Framework.

OBSSR is seeking to host a scholar with expertise in the behavioral and social science factors underlying climate change adaptation, mitigation, or communication. The scholar may be health focused or may be a behavioral or social scientist with more broad expertise in climate change. Scholars with expertise in multilevel influences and methods, social determinants of health, and behavioral economics are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due by July 15, 2024. Please reach out to CHScholars@nih.gov with any questions.

Learn More About the Program

NIH Releases Draft Public Access Policy and Draft Supplemental Guidance for Public Feedback

NIH is soliciting comments from the public on the NIH Draft Public Access Policy and two supplemental draft guidance documents regarding government use license and rights and costs for publications. The NIH Draft Public Access Policy builds upon NIH's long history of providing public access to scholarly publications resulting from the research it supports and proposes additional steps to accelerate access.

Public comments will be accepted until August 19, 2024. Questions may be sent to SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov.

Submit a Comment

Now Available: Watch the 2024 NIH Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Science Honors

The 17th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors is now available to view on demand. The annual event recognizes emerging scientists and leaders in the field whose research reflects Dr. Matilda White Riley’s vision of research excellence in health-related behavioral and social sciences.

Dr. White Riley, Ph.D., was a celebrated scientist and member of the National Academy of Sciences whose transformative work and leadership left a lasting impact on behavioral and social sciences across the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and beyond.

Watch the Recording

“Music as Medicine: The Science and Clinical Practice” Workshop Summaries and Video Recordings Now Available

The summaries and video recordings for the Music as Medicine: The Science and Clinical Practice workshop, which took place on December 14–15, 2023, are now available. These resources provide highlights of the accomplishments from the last 7 years in advancing scientific research on music and health, offer insights into the next phase of research, and serve to further build the research community.

OBSSR Director Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D., also discussed highlights from the workshop with Dr. Helene Langevin, Director of NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, in her January Director’s Voice blog.

View the Recordings and Summaries