NIOSH Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (U19)

NIOSH

Complete guidelines can be found at NIOSH Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (U19)

NIOSH/CDC invites applications for the NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health (TWH). The purpose of this FOA is to solicit meritorious applications for Centers of Excellence for TWH to develop and conduct a broad range of multidisciplinary research, intervention, outreach and education, and evaluation activities that advance the overall safety, health, and well-being of the diverse population of workers in our nation. Center structure should take advantage of diverse scientific resources and focus on local, regional, or national worker safety and health issues. Centers should emphasize creating and implementing evidence-based solutions to address evolving challenges and opportunities related to worker safety, mental and physical health, and well-being. Collaborations in partnership with academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other groups focused on occupational safety and health are expected.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace environment and increased worker concerns about economic insecurity, mental health and well-being, isolation and other challenges of working remotely, and reintegrating back into the workplace safely. New and daily challenges in the workplace, families, and communities create emerging conditions that increase allostatic loading (the wear and tear of ongoing stress experienced by individuals) and may affect cognitive reserve and resilience, and potentially lead to cognitive decline. Gender, age and socioeconomic characteristics of workers may affect their sensitivity to these emerging conditions.  

Centers of Excellence for TWH are expected to conduct research, planning and evaluation, and outreach and education that integrate traditional occupational safety and health (OSH) protection with interventions that protect, preserve, and advance the overall well-being of workers, communicate knowledge and best practices, and develop effective partnerships with workers, organizations and employers, NIOSH scientists, communities, and other entities.

Priority Topic Areas: To address evolving challenges and opportunities related to worker safety, health, and well-being, the TWH program highlights critical priority areas and emerging issues currently relevant to advancing worker well-being. These are not intended to be an exhaustive list, imply a hierarchy of importance, or be mutually exclusive. The program’s latest research interests and needs are:

• Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders in the Workplace
• TWH Outreach, Education, and Training
• Measuring Worker Well-Being
• Future of Work
• Healthy Work Design and Well-Being
• Workplace Mental Health and Worker Well-Being

One application per institution is allowed. 

NIOSH anticipates funding up to 8 awards through this announcement. $1,400,000 Total Costs (direct and indirect costs) per budget period. Award Ceiling: $1,400,000 total costs per budget period Award Floor: $500,000 total costs per budget period. Award Project Period: Total project period is 5 years.

If you would like to be considered, please submit the following Internal Review Documents. These documents will be reviewed by an Ad hoc committee, which will recommend to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development the candidate/project with the best chance of being awarded.

Internal Review Documents Required          

• Descriptive title of proposed Center
• Name(s), department(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Identify the Priority Topic Area
• Describe your proposed Centers research goals and objectives by using appropriate approaches that include a range of activity from basic research to intervention, translation, and outreach to help alleviate the occupational health burden. (1 page)

Please submit the internal review documents in a single PDF file to ovpr.limitedsubmission@research.buffalo.edu by 5pm October 16, 2020.  The selected UB applicants will be notified and invited to submit a complete nomination.