OBSSR Celebrates 30th Anniversary
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, OBSSR hosts a series of events throughout the year, including webinars, workshops, and a research festival.
OBSSR Releases Its Strategic Plan for 2025–2029
OBSSR releases its fourth strategic plan, which reflects the rapidly changing nature of behavioral and social sciences research and builds on the office’s previous accomplishments. The plan capitalizes on OBSSR’s unique coordinating role, highlighting scientific priorities that transcend specific diseases and conditions, address critical areas, and fulfill the needs of the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices.
The Future of Scientific Conferencing
OBSSR hosts The Future of Scientific Conferencing Workshop," a virtual event that brings together varied perspectives from multiple disciplines to explore advantages, barriers, gaps, and opportunities in the future of scientific conferencing for the behavioral and social sciences.
A Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking
The Subcommittee on Social and Behavioral Sciences, co-chaired by the OBSSR Director, authors the Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking.
Behavioral Economics: Policy Impact and Future Directions
OBSSR and other NIH institutes and centers sponsor a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that examines the evidence for behavioral economics and its application in six public policy domains: health, retirement benefits, climate change, social safety net benefits, education, and criminal justice.
Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization Program
The Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization (BBQS) program is a basic research effort in the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative to develop new tools and approaches in support of a more comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the neural basis of behavior.
Formation of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) Executive Committee
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a consortium of 21 NIH institutes, centers, and offices led by OBSSR and the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Aging, and National Institute of Nursing Research was formed.
National Science Foundation–National Institutes of Health (NSF-NIH) Interagency Initiative: Smart and Connected Health
NIH (including OBSSR) and the National Science Foundation issue an interagency program solicitation for the development of technologies, analytics, and models supporting next-generation health and medical research through high-risk, high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering and technology, behavior, cognition, robotics and imaging.
NIH Research on Managing Chronic Pain
More than 50 million U.S. adults experience chronic pain, defined as pain lasting three months or longer. Of these, 17 million experience high-impact chronic pain, which often limits daily activity. Chronic pain is more common among older adults, women, American Indian or Alaska Native people, those living in rural areas, and adults who are publicly insured, unemployed, or living in poverty.
Ethics and Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Ethicists—people trained in the theory and practice of moral reasoning—are sometimes viewed as a sort of “advice columnist” for those seeking guidance on serious matters. When, if ever, am I allowed to lie? Should I allow my children to participate in sports with a higher risk of head injuries? Should I pursue chemotherapy for my elderly dog?
