Archived Content
The Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) archives materials older than three years that are no longer updated. This content is available for historical purposes, and the information and links may have changed over time.
June 16, 2020
Director’s Voice
As we celebrate 25 years of OBSSR, we have asked the former Directors to reflect on their time at OBSSR. This guest blog was authored by OBSSR’s second Director, Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
Promoting Inclusion of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Across the NIH: OBSSR 2000–2003.
I would like to thank the current OBSSR Director, Bill Riley, and staff for providing this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments when I directed OBSSR from 2000-2003. Prior to serving in this role, I was the Director of the Division of Health Examination Statistics at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics where I led the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. Upon becoming the OBSSR Director, my primary goal was to promote and facilitate the inclusion of behavioral and social science research (BSSR) across the NIH.
Research Spotlights
Findings from Recently Published Research
More diversity in your daily experiences may increase happiness and well-being
Experiential diversity has been shown to promote well-being in animal models, but little is known if this also be true for humans. In a recent publication, researchers funded by the NCI, NIA, National Science Foundation, and other funders, investigated the relationship between the diversity of personal daily experiences, well-being, and neural pathways in the brain. Previous research has associated the hippocampus and striatum with processing neural signals of place, novelty, and reward.
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False memories may be the result of the brain updating poorly formed memories with incorrect information
Trauma and memory go hand-in-hand toward understanding the potential impact of a traumatic event. Researchers investigated this poorly understood relationship in a recent publication supported by the NIMH and other funders, using a well-established mouse model of fear. They conducted a variety of experiments to better understand the neural processes that are involved in learning about the post-trauma response.
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Personal accounts of childhood abuse are more correlated with psychopathology than with official records
Childhood abuse and neglect has wide ranging impacts, including the health and happiness of future generations. Recent research supported by the NIMH, NICHD, NIDA, NIAAA, NIA, National Institute of Justice, and other funders assessed if objective measures of childhood abuse and neglect, defined by court records, is a better predictor of adult mental health relative to subjective measures (self-reported childhood abuse). This study defined childhood abuse as physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.
Go There Now
In the Know
Events and Announcements
COVID-19-Specific Survey Items Now Available on PhenX and the NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Platforms
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, researchers with existing longitudinal cohorts and survey samples have been developing and fielding new survey items assessing various COVID-19-specific domains, such as symptoms, knowledge and attitudes, adherence to various mitigation behaviors, social impacts, and economic impacts. Efforts to standardize or harmonize COVID-19 survey items, however, did not appear feasible given the urgency to field items as early as possible during the pandemic.
To minimize the proliferation of one-off survey items, encourage comparisons across samples, and facilitate data integration and collaboration, a NIH-wide working group co-led by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) worked to make existing COVID-19 survey items and investigator contact information available in a survey item repository. Two NIH-supported survey item platforms have made this expanding list of survey items available as a resource for researchers interested in assessing COVID-19-specific domains.
Funding Opportunities Specific to COVID-19 and the Behavioral and Social Sciences
These Funding Opportunity Announcements are recently released NOSIs for Urgent Competitive Revisions and Administrative Supplements that encourage COVID-19 behavioral and social sciences research. Key areas of research encouraged by these NOSIs include various aspects of the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19 including risk communication, adherence to and transmission risks from various public health mitigation efforts, economic and social impacts from these mitigation efforts, downstream health and healthcare access effects as a result of these economic and social impacts, and interventions to ameliorate these downstream health impacts. In addition to a number of NIH institute or center (IC) NOSIs, OBSSR also has issued a NIH-wide NOSI to address common areas of interest across ICs and provide a mechanism for ICs to fund urgent competitive revisions and administrative supplements without publishing their own NOSI.
Presentation Slides Available: What We Are Learning from Talking to Scientists About Science
The "What We Are Learning from Talking to Scientists About Science" presentation slides are now available to view and download on the OBSSR website. In recent years, John Besley, Ph.D., Ellis N. Brandt Professor of Public Relations, Michigan State University, shifted his research from the study of public opinion about science to trying to understand scientists' opinion about the public.
As part of this work, he and his collaborators have advanced a framework for strategic science communication that emphasizes setting clear behavioral goals and then working backwards to identify communication objectives that have the potential of affecting desired behaviors, as well as tactics to help achieve the communication objectives. This perspective puts identifying and prioritizing specific communication objectives at the core of being an effective communicator.
During this OBSSR Director's Webinar guest presentation, Dr. Besley shared his thinking along with selected data from his surveys and interviews of scientists.
2020–2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research
The first NIH-wide strategic plan for nutrition research emphasizes cross-cutting, innovative opportunities to advance nutrition research across a wide range of areas, from basic science to experimental design to research training, has been published. These opportunities complement and enhance ongoing research efforts across NIH to improve health and to prevent or combat diseases and conditions affected by nutrition.
The plan was developed by the NIH Nutrition Research Task Force (NRTF) with extensive input from the broader external research community and the public. The NRTF provides updates on the plan’s implementation on their webpage.
Funding Announcements
Recently Published FOAs
Emergency Awards: RADx-UP Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC) (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-OD-20-013
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): July 8, 2020
Application Due Date: August 7, 2020
Expiration Date: August 8, 2020
Purpose
NIH is issuing this FOA in response to the declared public health emergency issued by the Secretary, HHS, for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency cooperative agreement funding opportunity announcement (FOA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides an expedited funding mechanism as part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative, a consortium of community-engaged research projects to understand factors that have led to disproportionate burden of the pandemic on the underserved and/or vulnerable populations so that interventions can be implemented to decrease these disparities. This FOA seeks to fund a single Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC) as an integral part of the consortium. The funding for this initiative is provided from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020.
View RFA-OD-20-013Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Emergency Competitive Revisions for Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Research on COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations
Notice Number
NOT-OD-20-119
Key Dates
Release Date: June 12, 2020
First Available Due Date: July 8, 2020
Expiration Date: September 9, 2020
Purpose
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) highlights the urgent need to understand the social, ethical, and behavioral implications (SEBI) of COVID-19 testing among underserved and/or vulnerable populations across the United States through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative. The overarching goal is to understand factors that have led to disproportionate burden of the pandemic on these underserved populations so that interventions can be implemented to decrease these disparities. The funding for this supplement is provided from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020.
View NOT-OD-20-119Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Emergency Competitive Revisions for Community-Engaged Research on COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations
Notice Number
NOT-OD-20-120
Key Dates
Release Date: June 12, 2020
First Available Due Date: July 8, 2020
Expiration Date: September 9, 2020
Purpose
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) highlights the urgent need to understand and address COVID-19 morbidity and mortality disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations across the United States. These two-year community-engaged Testing Research Projects will examine SARS-CoV-2 infection patterns and efforts to increase access and effectiveness of diagnostic methods through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative. The overarching goal is to understand factors that have led to disproportionate burden of the pandemic on these underserved populations so that interventions can be implemented to decrease these disparities. The funding for this supplement program is provided from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020.
View NOT-OD-20-120Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Limited Competition for Emergency Competitive Revisions for Community-Engaged Research on COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations
Notice Number
NOT-OD-20-121
Key Dates
Release Date: June 12, 2020
First Available Due Date: August 7, 2020
Expiration Date: August 8, 2020
Purpose
This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) highlights the urgent need to understand and address COVID-19 morbidity and mortality disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations across the United States. These two-year community-engaged Testing Research Projects will examine SARS-CoV-2 infection patterns and efforts to increase access and effectiveness of diagnostic methods through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative. The overarching goal is to understand factors that have led to disproportionate burden of the pandemic on these underserved populations so that interventions can be implemented to decrease these disparities. The funding for this supplement program is provided from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020.
View NOT-OD-20-121Mid-Career Enhancement Awards to Integrate Basic Behavioral, Biomedical, and/or Social Scientific Processes (K18 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
Notice Number
PAR-20-226
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): February 16, 2021
Application Due Date(s): March 17, 2021, March 17, 2022, March 17, 2023
Expiration Date: March 18, 2023
Purpose
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications from investigators who strive to expand their research trajectories through the acquisition of new knowledge and skills in the areas of basic psychological processes, sociological processes, and/or biomedical pathways—expertise that is beyond and enhances their current areas of expertise. The program will support career development experiences and a small-scale research project that will provide experienced investigators with the scientific competencies required to conduct independent research projects that more thoroughly investigate interrelationships among behavioral, biological, endocrine, epigenetic, immune, inflammatory, neurological, psychological, and/or social processes. Eligible candidates are independent investigators at mid-career faculty rank or level.
View PAR-20-226Mid-Career Enhancement Awards to Integrate Basic Behavioral, Biomedical, and/or Social Scientific Processes (K18 No Independent Clinical Trials)
Notice Number
PAR-20-211
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): February 16, 2021
Application Due Date(s): March 17, 2021, March 17, 2022, March 17, 2023
Expiration Date: March 18, 2023
Purpose
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications from investigators who strive to expand their research trajectories through the acquisition of new knowledge and skills in the areas of basic psychological processes, sociological processes, and/or biomedical pathways—expertise that is beyond and enhances their current areas of expertise. The program will support career development experiences and a small-scale research project that will provide experienced investigators with the scientific competencies required to conduct independent research projects that more thoroughly investigate interrelationships among behavioral, biological, endocrine, epigenetic, immune, inflammatory, neurological, psychological, and/or social processes. Applicants may propose research that involves non-human animals, secondary data analyses, or other career development projects that do not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. Applicants are permitted to propose research experience within a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. Eligible candidates are independent investigators at mid-career faculty rank or level.
This FOA is designed specifically for applicants proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial. Applicants proposing Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) should apply to the companion FOA PAR-20-226.
View PAR-20-211NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program
(DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-011
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 11, 2020
Application Due Date: September 11, 2020
Expiration Date: September 12, 2020
Purpose
The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the nation’s research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigator’s research program or elsewhere. The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.
View RFA-RM-20-011NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program
(DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-012
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): July 21, 2020
Application Due Date: August 21, 2020
Expiration Date: August 22, 2020
Purpose
The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program supports early stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program complements other ongoing efforts by NIH and its Institutes and Centers to fund early stage investigators. The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.
RFA-RM-20-012NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards
(R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-013
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 31, 2020
Application Due Date: September 30, 2020
Expiration Date: October 1, 2020
Purpose
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award Program supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new and improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the nation’s research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications are welcome in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. No preliminary data are required. Projects must clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact in a broad area of relevance to the NIH. The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund. Those wishing to apply for the NIH Director's Emergency Transformative Research Award for SARS-CoV-2-related research must apply in response to RFA-RM-20-020.
View RFA-RM-20-013NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards
(DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-014
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 4, 2020
Application Due Date: September 4, 2020
Expiration Date: September 5, 2020
Purpose
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports exceptional junior investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. In addition, applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund. Those wishing to apply for the NIH Director's Emergency Early Independence Award for SARS-CoV-2-related research must apply in response to RFA-RM-20-021.
View RFA-RM-20-014NIH Director’s Emergency Transformative Research Awards
(R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-020
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 30, 2020
Application Due Date: September 30, 2020
Expiration Date: October 1, 2020 x
Purpose
This FOA solicits applications responsive only to the COVID-19 public health emergency through support of the CARES Act. All other Transformative Research Award applications must be submitted in response to RFA-RM-20-013.
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award Program supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new and improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the nation’s research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. No preliminary data are required. Projects must clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact on SARS-CoV-2 prevention, preparation, or response. The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Common Fund will dedicate funds provided by the CARES Act to support a total of 5-10 Transformative Research Awards (through this FOA) or Early Independence Awards (through RFA-RM-20-021) that bring new, innovative perspectives and approaches to the prevention of, preparation for, or response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, domestically or internationally. Any relevant area of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 research is welcome, including behavioral/social science research, research on health disparities, novel therapeutics, and other related topics. As with all High-Risk, High-Reward Research program applications, innovation may be technological or conceptual.
View RFA-RM-20-020NIH Director’s Emergency Early Independence Awards
(DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)
Notice Number
RFA-RM-20-021
Key Dates
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 4, 2020
Application Due Date: September 4, 2020 Expiration Date: September 5, 2020
Purpose
This FOA solicits applications responsive only to the COVID-19 public health emergency through support of the CARES Act. All other Early Independence Award applications must be submitted in response to RFA-RM-20-014.
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund) supports exceptional junior investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are strongly encouraged to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Common Fund will dedicate funds provided by the CARES Act to support a total of 5-10 Early Independence Awards (through this FOA) or Transformative Research Awards (through RFA-RM-20-020) that bring new, innovative perspectives and approaches to the prevention of, preparation for, or response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, domestically or internationally. Any relevant area of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 research is welcome, including behavioral/social science research, research on health disparities, novel therapeutics, and other related topics. As with all High-Risk, High-Reward Research program applications, innovation may be technological or conceptual.
View RFA-RM-20-021
Protocol Template for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Resource for Communicating the Science, Methods, and Operations of a Clinical Trial
This Protocol Template for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research is a suggested format for clinical trials that are testing a behavioral or social intervention or experimental manipulation. The template can also be a useful tool for those trials funded by NIH Institutes or Centers that do not require stand-alone clinical protocols. Using the template to anticipate decision points and potential challenges before a study launches can help avoid delays down the road. Use of the protocol template is encouraged but not required.
Social and Behavioral Research eLearning Course
Good Clinical Practice in Social and Behavioral Research
Complete the free NIH Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training through the Society of Behavioral Medicine. In September 2016, the NIH issued a Policy on Good Clinical Practice Training for NIH awardees involved in NIH-funded clinical trials. The principles of GCP help assure the safety, integrity, and quality of clinical trials. Certificates will be given upon completion of the training.
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