NIEHS Investigator-Initiated Research Grants

NIEHS, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, funds investigator-initiated R01 and R21 awards for U.S. universities and research organizations studying environmental exposures and their effects on human health. The portfolio also includes the ONES Award for early-stage investigators, which uses the R01 mechanism and adds a career-development path for newer environmental health scientists. The program is a grant competition that appears multiple times a year. Core awards follow standard NIH research project and exploratory/developmental mechanisms, while the ONES variant can support up to $250,000 a year in direct costs for five years, plus $250,000 in career-enhancement funds. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based universities and research organizations; for-profit firms and individuals are excluded. This route fits investigators with a focused environmental health question, a clear experimental plan, and institutional support for multi-year research. Because it spans both conventional R01 work and smaller R21 projects, it serves mature research programs and newer ideas that need a first test before a larger effort.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.