NIOSH Exploratory/Developmental Grant Program (R21)
View forecast on Grants.gov →Forecasted — not yet open
- Posted
- July 27, 2026
- Closes
- See announcement
- Award ceiling
- $300,000
- Program funding
- $3,000,000
- Expected awards
- 10
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant
- Assistance listing
- 93.262
- Category
- Health
- Archives
- November 22, 2031
Program funding history
Awards made under Assistance Listing 93.262 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.
- FY2024 obligated
- $107.1M
- FY2025 obligated
- $105M
- FY2026 (to date) obligated
- $33M
- Awards in window
- 326
Top recipients: City of New York, The University of Iowa, University of Illinois, Cpwr: the Center for Construction Research and Training, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed August 2026
Synopsis
The R21 grant program is designed to advance our understanding of occupational diseases and injuries by focusing on the following three objectives:
- Identify the risks and conditions linked to workplace health issues.
- Develop strategies to reduce risks and limit exposure to hazardous environments.
- Translate significant scientific discoveries into prevention measures and products that can effectively reduce work-related illnesses and injuries.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) actively supports exploratory and developmental research projects (R21) that pursue:
- Innovative scientific concepts.
- New model systems.
- Tools or technologies with the potential to make a meaningful impact on occupational safety and health.
Through this NOFO, applicants will:
- Provide a clear and concise description of the specific occupational health burden the proposal addresses.
- Demonstrate how the proposed research activities will lead to outputs that directly contribute to alleviating this burden.
- Outline the expected outcomes and impacts of their research during the project and in the long term.
Who can apply
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Special district governments
- City or township governments
- Small businesses
- County governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the HHS Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
How to apply
Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.
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