Director's Voice Blog

In the monthly Director’s Voice Blog, OBSSR leadership discusses timely topics related to behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR). Subscribe to receive updates.

Archived Director’s Blogs by Year

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
NIH OBSSR Director’s Blog on behavioral and social sciences research accomplishments.
The Annual NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Festival, hosted by OBSSR and in collaboration with the NIH BSSR Coordinating Committee, will be held virtually on Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST each day. The festival showcases exciting research results, emerging areas, and innovations in health related BSSR.
Child health day recognizes the care and guidance children need to grow strong and healthy -physically, psychologically, and socially. To address pandemic and other child health concerns, various social and behavioral science organizations initiated a coordinated effort (#SBS4Kids) to describe the role the social and behavioral sciences can play in addressing these concerns and empowering our children to thrive in these challenging times.
NIH awarded 10 grants addressing firearm violence prevention.
As part of the commemoration of our 25th anniversary, we developed a historical record of the OBSSR’s key events, accomplishments, and leadership during the Office’s 25 years of existence.
As you weigh the risks and benefits of COVID vaccination, consider the benefits that extend beyond yourself to the many millions of people like my wife, including some you probably know, who depend on the rest of us to help protect them from COVID.
NIH has provided new guidance for basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH).
The NIH has added a new component to RADx—to find ways to understand and address the concerns of people worried about COVID-19 testing, vaccine safety, and efficacy.
The NIH launched the UNITE initiative to end structural racism and racial inequities in the health research enterprise.
A working group of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Coordinating Committee has been charged with evaluating the research on racism and health that we fund and to make recommendations for future directions. This working group has and will continue to provide input to larger NIH-wide efforts.