National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Annual due dates by application purpose:

• Support of mentored research training: 2/1, 4/1, 6/1, 9/1, 10/1 and 12/1
• Retention of investigators: 2/1, 4/1, 6/1, 9/1, 10/1 and 12/1
• All other areas: 4/1, 9/1, and 12/1

Note: 

• The earliest possible award date for all NIEHS administrative supplements is 3-4 months after the due date.

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The NIEHS Conference Grant Program supports investigator-initiated scientific meetings —such as conferences, workshops, symposia, and seminars— that directly advance the institute’s mission, particularly research on how environmental factors and gene–environment interactions influence disease or dysfunction. Relevant topics include environmental toxicology, chemical exposure, mechanistic toxicology, environmental epidemiology, exposure science, detection of hazardous substances, and scientific methods to reduce environmental hazards. Support is available for events of all sizes. For larger conferences, NIEHS prioritizes multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary events that foster collaboration among researchers. Applications are encouraged to include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior investigators, and community members with funding allowed for their participation. 

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program also supports meetings relevant to their interest areas.

NIEHS limits conference grant awards to no more than $25,000 in direct costs per year for new (had no previous NIEHS support) and $50,000 in direct costs per year for returning (had previous NIEHS support) conferences. Typical support is less than the outlined limits. NIEHS will consider providing co-funding for conference applications administered by other ICOs (usually less than $10,000).

NIEHS considers applications submitted to all conference standard due dates.

It is highly suggested that applicants reach out to the NIEHS Conference Grant Coordinator no later than 6 weeks prior to the receipt date with any questions.

NIEHS considers requests for a single conference or a series up to 3 years.

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NIEHS supports the following Individual Career Development (K) Awards: 

• Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
• Clinical Investigator Award (K08)
• Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
• Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
• Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
• Career Transition Award (K99)

NIEHS supports research on environmental exposures such as industrial chemicals and manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides and herbicides, air pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates, extreme heat, and fungal and bacterial toxins.

Research involving alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation that is not caused by an environmental exposure, tobacco smoke (primary exposure), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, dietary nutrients, and infectious or parasitic agents is generally outside the primary mission of NIEHS.

Research in environmental science and engineering, including the development and validation of remediation technologies and studies of the environmental fate and transport of chemicals, is also generally outside the primary mission of NIEHS.

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program and the NIEHS Worker Training Program do not participate in this program.

For K01 awards, NIEHS prioritizes applications from applicants who:

• Are within 3 years of starting their first independent faculty position at the time of application.
• Have a primary mentor with current NIEHS research funding or a strong history of NIEHS research support.
• Propose research that is clearly independent of their former mentor's research.

For K08 and K23 awards, NIEHS prioritizes applications from applicants who:

• Are licensed to practice in the United States.
• Actively practice in the United States.

NIEHS strongly encourages applicants to contact the appropriate program staff well before applying.

• K01: 3 yrs
• K08/K23: 5 years (six cumulative years including Physician Scientist Award (K12) and/or Mentored Career Development Award (KL2) support)
• K24: 5 yrs (Recipients may apply for a one-time renewal for an additional 3-5 yrs of support if they have a NIEHS independent peer-reviewed research award at the time of renewal submission)
• K25: 5 yrs
• K99: 2 yrs 
• Research Transition Award (R00): 3 yrs

NIEHS will support salary plus fringe benefits as follows:

• K01: up to $75,000 in salary/year plus fringe benefits
• K08: up to legislated cap per year plus fringe benefits
• K23: up to legislated cap per year plus fringe benefits
• K24: up to legislated cap per year plus fringe benefits for 25-50% effort.
• K25: up to $100,000 in salary/year plus fringe benefits
• K99: up to $75,000 in salary/year plus fringe benefits 

NIEHS will provide research support as follows:

• K01: research support up to $50,000 per year
• K08: research support up to $40,000 per year
• K23: research support up to $40,000 per year 
• K24: research support up to $50,000 per year
• K25: research support up to $40,000 per year
• K99: research support up to $20,000 per year

NIEHS expects candidates to commit the following effort:

• K01: 9 person months.
• K08 and K23: 9 person months (75%) full-time professional effort. Exceptions for certain specialties or special circumstances may be requested in writing at least 12 weeks prior to the submission.
• K24: 3-6 person-months (25 - 50% full-time professional effort). 
• K25: 9 person months
• K99: 9 person months

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NIEHS supports the following Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Fellowships:

• Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (F30)
• Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
• Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
• National Research Service Awards for Senior Fellows (F33)
• Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00)

Fellowship research training supported by the NIEHS is expected to focus on the environmental health sciences and be responsive to the Interest Areas and mission of the NIEHS, which is to support research that examines how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote human health.

F99/K00: NIEHS funding is limited to neuroscience applications within the NIEHS mission as part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research's ACTION Potential Program.

Neither the NIEHS Superfund Research Program nor the NIEHS Worker Training Program participates in these programs.

Current NRSA stipends, tuition/fees, and budgetary levels apply.

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NIEHS Institutional Career Development awards are expected to focus on the environmental health sciences and be responsive to the interest areas and mission of the NIEHS, which is to support research that examines how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote human health. 

NIEHS encourages proposals that provide new pediatric healthcare providers, obstetricians and gynecologists, and other healthcare professionals with state-of-the-art environmental health training that blends research, research translation, and practice-based applications to prepare them as independent researchers and recognized leaders. 

NIEHS prioritizes applications that propose partnerships with one or more Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit to apply skills and knowledge in real-world settings.

NIEHS prioritizes proposals that outline a strategy to foster programmatic identity and networking among scholars.

Neither the NIEHS Superfund Research Program nor the NIEHS Worker Training Program participates in these programs.

NIEHS allows up to $110,000 plus fringe benefits/per year toward the salary of the career award recipient.

NIEHS will allow annual direct costs of up to $25,000 per year per scholar toward the research development costs of the career award recipient.

• Allowable expenses in this category include
  • Consultant costs, research supplies, equipment, and technical personnel
  • Travel to attend Scholar meetings, research meetings, or training
  • Tuition, fees, and books related to didactic courses or career development activities
  • Statistical services or technical support for data analysis, including personnel and computer time

These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution.

Career award recipients are expected to devote a minimum of 9 person-months (75% of full-time professional effort) during the appointment on the K12 award.

Career award recipients who are surgeons in pediatric and reproductive health fields may request between 6 and 9 person-months (50% to 75%) of full-time professional effort.

[email protected]

NIEHS supports the following Institutional Training (T) Awards: 

• Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
• National Research Service Award Short-Term Research Training Award (T35)

NIEHS supports research on environmental exposures such as industrial chemicals and manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides and herbicides, air pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates, extreme heat, and fungal and bacterial toxins.

Research involving alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation that is not caused by an environmental exposure, tobacco smoke (primary exposure), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, dietary nutrients, and infectious or parasitic agents is generally outside the primary mission of NIEHS.

Research in environmental science and engineering, including the development and validation of remediation technologies and studies of the environmental fate and transport of chemicals, is also generally outside the primary mission of NIEHS.

Neither the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, nor the NIEHS Worker Training Program participate in this program.

NIEHS prioritizes Predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees for Institutional National Research Service Award Training Programs (T32) and Postbaccalaureate students enrolled in degree programs at health professional schools for National Research Service Award Short-Term Research Training Programs (T35).

• NIEHS only considers applications during January council.

• NIEHS supports travel costs up to $300 per predoctoral trainee per year or $600 per postdoctoral trainee per year 
• NIEHS supports travel costs up to $1,000 per year total for PD/PI and/or coordinator training staff (not per individual) to travel to the NIEHS Annual Training Director’s Meeting.

[email protected]

NIEHS participates in the following programs:

• NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1): NIEHS administers and funds DP1 applications submitted in response to funding announcements released by the Common Fund High-Risk, High-Reward Program. NIEHS prioritizes funding for meritorious DP1 applications which are responsive to the NIEHS mission.
• NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards (DP2): NIEHS administers and funds DP2 applications submitted in response to funding announcements released by the Common Fund High-Risk, High-Reward Program. NIEHS prioritizes funding for meritorious DP2 applications which are responsive to the NIEHS mission.

• Outstanding Investigator Award (R35): NIEHS uses the R35 award to support the majority of an investigator’s independent environmental health sciences research program and is intended for investigators with demonstrated potential to conduct outstanding, innovative, and transformative research. 

  NIEHS prioritizes applications that convey a clear and compelling vision for research that could significantly advance the field, particularly through programs that address major challenges in the environmental health sciences that cannot be supported effectively through standard research funding mechanisms.

  Areas of potential impact include:

  • Advancing therapeutic targets.
  • Developing new strategies, or enhancing existing approaches, to protect human health.
  • Improving clinical protocols.
  • Supporting population-wide prevention or intervention efforts.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35): 

• NIEHS prioritizes funding for applications that commit at least 6 person months of effort (i.e., the equivalent of 50% effort for a 12-month appointment, 66.67% effort for a 9-month appointment, or 100% effort for a 6-month appointment) for the duration of the award period.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35): 

• Applications are considered for funding at the beginning of the fiscal year, after September/October council meeting. Although applications are accepted for all funding opportunity due dates, applicants are encouraged to submit to due dates that align with that council.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35): 

• Maximum of seven (7) years of support.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35): 

• NIEHS supports awards of up to $600,000 in direct costs per year. Investigators whose combined annual direct costs for all NIEHS projects to be consolidated into the R35 exceed that amount may request the combined annual direct costs of those projects, plus 10%, not to exceed $750,000 in direct costs per year. The final award amount will be determined by NIEHS.

Outstanding Investigator Award (R35) 

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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NIEHS Research Education Programs are expected to focus on the environmental health sciences and be responsive to the interest areas and mission of the NIEHS, which is to support research that examines how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote human health. 

NIEHS supports Research Experiences Programs

• NIEHS supports institutions that provide high-quality R25 Research Experiences for high school students, college students and science teachers during the summer academic break.   
• Programs can provide full-time research experiences during the summer and may request continued part-time support for the participants to work on their research projects during the school year. 

NIEHS supports Courses for Skills Development

• NIEHS supports intensive short courses for skills development ranging in length from one week to one month that incorporate both didactic and in-person hands-on learning activities and are open to participants from multiple institutions.

NIEHS supports Curriculum and Methods Development especially for undergraduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral/residency, early career, established investigator, and community research partners

• NIEHS supports curriculum and methods development that can be adapted and applied broadly across the environmental health community. 
•  It is expected that the curricula and methods developed with support from the R25 will be shared broadly, such as through the NIEHS Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) resource.

Neither the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, nor the NIEHS Worker Training Program participate in this program.

• Undergraduate
• Predoctoral
• Postdoctoral/Residency
• Early Career
• Established Investigator
• Other
  • High school students
  • High school science teachers
  • Community Research Partners

• Will consider Research Experience programs up to $125,000 direct costs per year.
• Will consider Courses for skills development up to $200,000 direct costs per year.
• Will consider Curriculum & Methods programs up to $100,000 direct costs per year.

[email protected]

Scientific Program Contact:
[email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
[email protected]

NIEHS SBIR/STTR grants help small businesses transform cutting-edge research into developing innovative and commercially viable products such as tools, technologies, assays, or services to translate and communicate environmental health research into improvements in human health. A combination of research & development, technology transfer, and communication strategies aid the mission of NIEHS. 
The institute’s scientific areas of emphasis include, but are not limited to, the following: 
•    Tools/technologies such as sensors, computational methods, and exposomics approaches for detecting and assessing human exposures to environmental hazards 
•    Innovative and/or alternative high-throughput or high-content assays/model systems, computational toxicology approaches, and other related new approach methodologies (NAMs) for toxicity testing and understanding effects on human health and disease
•    Tools/methods/applications for evaluating environmental health and safety of engineered nanomaterials and micro/nanoplastics
•    Biomonitoring technologies such as point-of-care approaches for personal exposure assessment and exposure mediated biological response biomarkers.
•    Intervention technologies and precision environmental health approaches to prevent or reduce human exposures or adverse health effects related to environmental stressors
•    Educational materials to promote or support understanding of environmental health science

NIEHS Superfund Research Program (accepting SBIR applications only) is focused on innovative detection and remediation technologies for hazardous substances with relevance to Superfund and/or other contaminated sites. 

NIEHS Worker Training Program (accepting SBIR Phase I applications only) is focused on the development of Technology-Enhanced Training Products for the health & safety training of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous materials and waste generation, removal, containment, transportation, and emergency response.

1. Tools and technologies for toxicity screening of compounds
2. Devices and computational approaches for improved exposure assessment
3. Assays, complex in vitro systems, and computational approaches for predictive toxicology
4. Validation of sensor technologies, including field testing to improved performance characteristics and usability of the sensors
5. Intervention technologies to prevent or reduce exposures to environmental stressors
6. Tools and approaches for expanding environmental health literacy

• NIEHS General SBIR/STTR Topics: total (direct/indirect/fee) budget not to exceed guidelines for Phase I and Phase II and $500,000 for CRP.
• NIEHS Superfund Research Program SBIR Topics: total (direct/indirect/fee) budget for Phase I is $200,000; Phase II is $1,250,000; CRP $300,000. 
• NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program SBIR Topics: total (direct/indirect/fee) budget for Phase I is $100,000. 

• NIEHS will consider Phase I up to 1 year; Phase II up to 2 years; CRP up to 2 years.  

[email protected]