Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (T42)

The Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (T42) funding opportunity, offered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides federal support to academic institutions for the development and delivery of graduate and post-graduate training, continuing education, outreach, and interdisciplinary research in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH). The goal of this program is to ensure a sufficient and well-qualified workforce capable of addressing occupational health issues through training in the core disciplines of industrial hygiene, occupational health nursing, occupational medicine, and occupational safety, as well as allied fields such as ergonomics, occupational health psychology, and agricultural safety. This program supports Education and Research Centers (ERCs), which function as regional and national resources for OSH education and research. These centers collaborate with professional associations, worker advocacy organizations, public health agencies, and other academic institutions, including Minority Serving Institutions, to provide high-quality interdisciplinary training and to conduct research aligned with the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). ERCs also develop and disseminate resources, courses, and interventions designed to prevent work-related injury, illness, and death while promoting worker well-being. Emphasis is placed on addressing emerging risks, disparities in worker safety, and the evolving needs of the labor market, especially in the wake of major public health crises like COVID-19. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions capable of awarding graduate degrees in OSH fields, and that are not current recipients of NIOSH T03 training grants. The program requires submission of applications through Grants.gov using platforms such as NIH ASSIST or institutional system-to-system tools. Applications must follow the CDC’s Multi-Project (M) Instructions and meet page limits as specified. A letter of intent is required 30 days prior to the application due date. The application due dates are December 17, 2024; October 23, 2025; October 22, 2026; October 21, 2027; and October 26, 2028. Applications must be validated by Grants.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on the due date. Scientific merit reviews occur each February following the application deadlines, with Advisory Council reviews in May, and earliest award start dates set for July 1 each year. The program is forecasted to continue annually through its expiration on October 30, 2028. Funding is limited to $1.8 million in total costs per year, with a minimum of 70% of academic training budgets allocated directly to trainee support (stipends, tuition, travel). The total award period may range from three to five years, with an award ceiling of $9 million and a floor of $4 million. Up to 18 awards are expected. Optional components such as Pilot Project Research and Targeted Research Training may be included for additional impact. Inquiries regarding this grant should be directed to Dr. Michael Goldcamp at mgoldcamp@cdc.gov. Additional technical support for submissions is available via commons@od.nih.gov or by phone at 1-866-504-9552.