Environmental Health

The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is to research how the environment affects biological systems across the lifespan and to translate this knowledge to reduce disease and promote health.

Research Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Science Education Grants, SBIR Grants, Independent Scientist Awards, Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award, and the Academic Career Awards: A university, college, hospital, State, local or tribal governments, nonprofit research institution, or for-profit organization may submit an application and receive a grant for support of research by a named principal investigator. Candidates for Academic Career Awards Awards and Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient Oriented Research must have a doctoral degree and peer-reviewed, independent, research support at the time the award is made. Candidates for Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards and Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Awards must have a clinical degree or its equivalent and must have initiated post graduate clinical training. Candidates holding a Ph.D. degree are ineligible. Candidates who have served as principal investigators on PHS-supported research projects are ineligible. A candidate for Academic Career Awards must have a clinical or research doctorate degree. Those eligible for the Development Award must be able to devote at least 75 percent effort. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees) which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. Centers: A university-based, nonprofit research institution, or for-profit organization proposing an integrated research program established to accomplish a stated mission, covering activities ranging from very basic research to the actual application of research results in the prevention and control of environmental health problems, may submit an application under the direction of a named Center Director. National Research Service Awards: (1) Nonprofit domestic organizations may apply for the Institutional NRSA; (2) Individual NRSA awardees must be nominated and sponsored by a public for-profit or nonprofit private institution having staff and facilities appropriate to the proposed research training program; (3) all awardees must be citizens or have been admitted to the United States for permanent residence; (4) to be eligible, predoctoral awardees must have completed the baccalaureate degree and postdoctoral awardees must have a professional or scientific degree (M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.O., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.Eng., or equivalent domestic or foreign degree).

Made on the basis of dual review by peer groups of all applications. The first level of reviews is by a study section for scientific merit. In addition, a national advisory council provides a secondary level of review for all applications. As required by P.L. 109-482, the NIH Health Reform Act of 2006, all research grant and cooperative agreements must undergo Advisory Council/Board review and approval prior to funding. Review of Individual NRSA applications by an Advisory Council/Board is not required. Final approval of these recommendations and decisions concerning funding are made by the Director, NIEHS.

Receipt, review and approval processes range in length from six to nine months.