Input requested on scientific priorities and cross-cutting themes for OBSSR Strategic Plan 2023-2028

OBSSR is seeking input on scientific priorities and cross-cutting themes for the OBSSR Strategic Plan 2023-2028. OBSSR’s mission is to enhance the impact of health related behavioral and social sciences research (BSSR); coordinate BSSR conducted or supported by the NIH and integrate these sciences within the larger NIH research enterprise; and communicate health related BSSR findings to interested parties within and outside the federal government.

The purpose of this recently released Request for Information (RFI) (NOT-OD-22-211) is to obtain input on cross-cutting themes and scientific priorities that will help inform OBSSR’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028. You can view the most recent strategic plan (2017-2021) here: https://obssr.od.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/.

The proposed scientific priorities and themes for the OBSSR Strategic Plan 2023-2028 include:

Three scientific priorities:

Improve the synergy between basic BSSR and research testing approaches to improve health outcomes
Enhance and promote research measures, methods, and infrastructure needed to support an integrated and more cumulative approach to BSSR
Accelerate sustained adoption of BSSR findings in practice

Four cross-cutting themes:

Integration of BSSR across NIH research
Science of science
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Training and capacity building