NIH requests disability research proposals

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on October 30 that multiple Institutes are seeking research proposals that will address issues that impact the health and well-being of people with disabilities. NIH also listed topics of interest in specific Institutes such as the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Mental Health and others with opportunities for OT and other disability researchers to submit proposals that target specific research areas.

NIH noted that this announcement is in alignment with its 2026-2031 Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research which “adopts a whole person health approach .. which supports individuals, families, communities and populations to improve health and well-being.” They also seek proposals that address the impact of medical conditions and non-medical factors specifically on people with disabilities and how biological, behavioral, sociocultural and environmental factors interact across the lifespan and to identify interventions to address problem areas.

NIH also noted that it seeks to “engage people with disabilities as partners throughout the research process, including planning, designing, and conducting studies and communicating study results.” AOTA and others have emphasized the importance of including people with disabilities when developing interventions to address their specific needs.

AOTA continues to work with partners in the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) to urge Congress to fully fund disability and rehab research efforts and to urge NIH to consider such research grants throughout its network of research Institutes, not just at dedicated units such as the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at the Administration for Community Living.