Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences

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Topic Description

Post Date: August 10, 2026

Expiration Date: August 10, 2028

Background

All communities are vulnerable to natural and human-made disasters, as well as emerging environmental and public health threats.  Recent events have emphasized the urgent need for research mechanisms capable of supporting time-sensitive studies before critical opportunities to collect data and biospecimens are lost.  In many cases, the scientific value of an event depends on swift action to capture exposure and health information during a narrow and often unpredictable window.

Purpose

The purpose of this topic is to support research that advances the understanding of health outcomes associated with unpredictable events that present a limited window for data and sample collection.  Research in response to this topic should facilitate the understanding of consequences of natural and human-made disasters, and emerging environmental public health threats in the U.S. to facilitate timely action to protect public health.  Appropriate studies should highlight the unforeseen nature of the event and the clear scientific value and feasibility of the study. Research supported during this short window of opportunity should be intended to serve as the foundation for analyses of longer-term exposure-health outcome relationships. 

Participating ICOs

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

NIEHS is interested in studies that will provide information on exposure-heath outcome relationships. Research responsive to the topic includes:

  • Immediate and short-term health effects following disasters
  • Measuring and characterizing human exposure to environmental hazards
  • Understanding how contaminants move and predicting exposure
  • Preventing or reducing exposure during disaster events (including remediation technologies applicable to Superfund-relevant exposures)

NIEHS encourages exploratory/developmental research projects (e.g., R21) and will prioritize applications with clear time-sensitivity. Studies proposing to use animals as surrogates for human exposure are of lower priority. The NIEHS Superfund Research Program is interested in the research described above, if applicable to sites impacted by hazardous waste. The NIEHS Workers Training Program is not a part of this topic.

IC may dedicate funds available to support applications in this Topic area depending upon the availability of funds, the number of meritorious applications, and competing ICO priorities.
IC may give special consideration to support meritorious applications in this topic area.
ICO Scientific Contact:
Toccara Chamberlain, M.A.
[email protected]

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIA is interested in environmental health research that is time-sensitive because key exposure, biologic, behavioral, clinical, or service-related data may be lost if not collected soon. This includes research on how disasters and emerging public health threats affect older adults. Aging can reduce the body’s ability to respond to stress, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, disability, social isolation. Reliance on medication, caregivers, and health services may also increase. Of interest is capturing early exposure and health data in older adults, including those in assisted living, nursing homes, rural settings, and other at-risk communities, to understand impacts on functional status, cognition, cardiometabolic health, mobility, resilience, and progression toward Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Research responsive to this topic should identify modifiable risk and protective factors to inform prevention, preparedness, and recovery strategies for older adults.

ICO Scientific Contact:
Richard Kwok, PhD
[email protected]

Emerald Nguyen, PhD
[email protected]

Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)

The Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) supports research that examines how unexpected events such as natural disasters and environmental emergencies uniquely affect the health of women and girls. ORWH prioritizes the need for rapid data and biospecimen collection to capture women’s distinct health risks, including impacts on chronic disease management, reproductive and maternal health, and mental health. Such studies should consider differences across life stages and highlight gaps in disaster preparedness for women with limited resources. This short-term research lays the foundation for long-term analyses to inform future interventions relevant to the health of women.

This office does not award grants. Applications must be relevant to the objectives of at least one of the participating Institutes or Centers listed in this topic.
ICO Scientific Contact:
Regine A. Douthard, M.D., M.P.H
[email protected]

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