Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

ABOUT OBSSR

The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) is responsible for coordinating the health-relevant behavioral and social sciences and identifying challenges and opportunities to advance these sciences at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To learn more about our commitment to enhancing, coordinating, and communicating health-related behavioral and social science research (BSSR), check out OBSSR’s Mission and History and Strategic Plan, as well as health-related BSSR accomplishments. The BSSR Definition describes the breadth and scope of the OBSSR mission at the NIH.

Organizational Structure
OBSSR is a part of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI). The mission of DPCPSI includes identifying emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges, and scientific knowledge gaps that merit further research. The Division coordinates research and activities related to research on AIDS, behavioral and social sciences, women's health, disease prevention, dietary supplements, research infrastructure, sexual and gender minorities, tribal health, and data science.

OBSSR's MISSION

Enhance the impact of health-related behavioral and social sciences research.
Coordinate behavioral and social sciences research conducted or supported by the NIH and integrate these sciences within the larger NIH research enterprise.
Communicate health-related behavioral and social sciences research findings to various stakeholders within and outside the federal government.

HISTORY of OBSSR

OBSSR was created by Congress in 1993, in recognition of the importance of behavioral and social sciences to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mission. Over more than two decades, the OBSSR has been instrumental in advancing and coordinating the behavioral and social sciences at the NIH. The NIH already had a long history of supporting health-related behavioral and social sciences research, and the results of this work have contributed significantly to our understanding of the basic underlying mechanisms and treatment of mental and physical health and illness. Establishing an office focused specifically on the behavioral and social contributions to mental and physical well-being enables the NIH to leverage existing efforts and develop synergy across multiple Institutes, Centers, and scientific disciplines.