NIOSH Large OSH Research Grant
Supports standing investigator initiated grants for discrete occupational safety and health research projects.
The NIOSH Large OSH Research Grant, funded through the R01 mechanism under program announcement PAR-18-812, is the primary investigator-initiated grant for discrete, specified research projects in occupational safety and health. NIOSH — the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — operates as an institute within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. NIOSH employs over 1,300 researchers and uses NIH grant mechanisms to fund extramural research, with all applications processed through the NIH ASSIST system and reviewed by NIOSH/CDC Scientific Evaluation Panels (SEPs) rather than standard NIH study sections. Award amounts for R01 grants are not posted on the CDC summary page and must be confirmed from the NIH Guide NOFO at time of application.
The program accepts applications on three standard NIH submission cycles per year, with due dates falling approximately in February, June, and October. Research may span the full range of NIOSH priority topic areas, including occupational injuries, hazardous exposures, work-related illness, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, respiratory health, and emerging occupational risks. Eligible applicants include domestic universities, research organizations, nonprofits, for-profit entities, and individual investigators with institutional affiliation, provided they hold a registered institution and an eRA Commons account. The program is continuous within the validity window of the active program announcement; NIOSH periodically reissues the PAR with updated numbers, so applicants should verify the current active announcement identifier on the NIH Guide before submitting.
Reviewed applications receive scores from NIOSH SEPs, and funded projects receive standard R01-level support for discrete research with defined aims, methods, and timelines. The NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs (OEP) administers all R-series grants. Applicants focusing on occupational health research are advised to review NIOSH's published research agenda to align project aims with stated agency priorities, which strengthens competitive standing during review.
Investigator-initiated occupational safety and health research covering the full range of NIOSH priority areas, submitted through three annual cycles via NIH ASSIST.
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