NIOSH Exploratory/Developmental Grant Program (R21)

The purpose of this grant program is to develop an understanding of the risks and conditions associated with occupational diseases and injuries, to explore methods for reducing risks and for preventing or minimizing exposure to hazardous conditions in the workplace, and to translate significant scientific findings into prevention practices and products that will effectively reduce work-related illnesses and injuries. Applicants must concisely describe the occupational health burden(s) being addressed in their proposal while also linking the proposed research activities and outputs that will help address or alleviate this burden. Applicants should clearly articulate the anticipated impacts of the proposed work, both during the project period and beyond. The NIOSH R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage new exploratory and developmental research projects. For example, such research could assess the feasibility of a novel area of investigation or a new experimental system that has the potential to enhance occupational safety and health-related research. Another example could include the unique and innovative use of an existing methodology to explore a new scientific area. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of occupational health and safety. These may differ substantially from current thinking or practice. In addition, these studies should break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications. Long-term projects or projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area (e.g., R01s) will not be considered for R21 awards. Applications submitted under this mechanism should be exploratory and novel and may not yet be supported by substantial preliminary data.