NIOSH WTC Health Program Research Funding

NIOSH WTC Health Program — U01 Cooperative Research

Funds clinical research into health outcomes linked to complex urban disasters.

The NIOSH World Trade Center Health Program Cooperative Research Agreement, issued as NOFO RFA-OH-26-001, funds U01-mechanism cooperative research targeting the health of workers, responders, and others exposed in connection with the September 11, 2001 attacks. NIOSH administers the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) under the mandate of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which directs federally funded monitoring, treatment, and research for 9/11-exposed populations. The U01 mechanism distinguishes these awards from standard investigator-initiated grants: NIOSH program staff participate actively in project design and direction rather than serving only as funders, making this a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. Award amounts for this cycle are not posted on the CDC summary page and must be verified from the grants.gov NOFO (grants.gov/search-results-detail/356163).

Funded projects focus on clinical, treatment, and diagnostic research on conditions affecting the WTC-exposed population — including cancers, respiratory conditions, mental health conditions, and other disorders recognized under the Zadroga Act. Eligible applicants include domestic universities, research organizations, nonprofits, for-profit entities, and individual investigators with institutional affiliation and eRA Commons accounts. Applications are submitted through NIH ASSIST and reviewed by NIOSH/CDC Scientific Evaluation Panels. The program contact is Eduardo O'Neill, PhD, reachable at fzt4@cdc.gov or 404-718-8844.

Competitive applications for the U01 WTC research program typically require demonstrated expertise in the clinical management or epidemiology of WTC-related conditions and an existing or nascent relationship with WTCHP clinical centers that treat the enrolled WTC survivor and responder population. Applicants should review the full NOFO on grants.gov for budget caps, page limits, and specific eligibility requirements before preparing materials, as these details are not reproduced on the CDC program summary page.