The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has joined with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and five other partners in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to stimulate new research on risk disparities among special populations.
The research will focus on identifying factors for disparities in health among different working populations and community populations in the United States, particularly between more advantaged and less advantaged populations.
Poor and minority populations are likely to be at higher risk for poor health than other groups, including higher risk of occupational illnesses and injuries, according to NIOSH. However, reasons for these disparities are not well understood, and differences remain even when accounting for lifestyle and access to health care.
"Determining why these differences exist is a critical step in correcting the problem," said NIOSH Director Linda Rosenstock, M.D. "We are pleased to join with our NIH partners to stimulate new research for better protecting the health and safety of all workers."
Under a request for applications, NIOSH, NIEHS and five other NIH partners are offering $5 million in competitive funding for new studies in this area for Fiscal Year 2000. Letters of intent to apply for grants are due by Jan. 25, 2000, and applications are due by April 26, 2000.
Under the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), the area of special populations at risk is identified as one of the 21 priority areas for research that will do the most to protect workers from job-related injuries and illnesses in the coming decade.