The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is inviting applications for nine new grants and cooperative agreements, totaling approximately $7.7 million, in 10 areas where research is vital for protecting worker health and safety in today's changing work environment.

Studies funded in these areas will add to the on-going research supported by NIOSH in areas related to the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). NORA, which was developed by NIOSH and diverse partners with input and review by more than 500 organizations and individuals, identifies 21 priority areas in which new research will have the greatest impact in reducing work-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths in the coming decade.

"NORA is widely applauded for harnessing the talents and resources of many diverse partners to push the envelope of modern occupational health and safety research," said NIOSH Director Linda Rosenstock, M.D., M.P.H. "With these new funding opportunities, we look forward to stimulating further successes."

Under four Requests for Applications (RFAs) for competitive grants, NIOSH is inviting applications for studies that will:

• Help reduce agriculture-related injuries to children, through the development of new and improved hazard control technologies and the evaluation of educational materials and training. Approximately $1.6 million is available in Fiscal Year 2000 to fund seven to 10 research project grants awards. Applications are due by April 19, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-001.html)

• Evaluate the effectiveness of new intervention methods for controlling workplace hazards. Approximately $1.2 million is available in FY 2000 to fund five to seven awards. Applications are due by April 26, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-002.html)

• Strengthen the surveillance of work-related injuries and illnesses, particularly those involving high-risk occupations and industries. Approximately $1.5 million is available in FY 2000 to fund seven to 10 awards. Applications are due by April 28, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-005.html)

• Provide exploratory research in the NORA priority areas of allergic and irritant dermatitis, social and economic consequences of workplace injury and illness, health services research, and pregnancy and fertility abnormalities. Approximately $1 million is available in FY 2000 to fund 10 awards. Applications are due by May 15, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-006.html)

Under opportunities for five new cooperative agreements, NIOSH also is seeking:

• Applications for participating in a research consortia to conduct a study of upper-limb and low-back musculoskeletal disorders at varying levels of exposure to job stressors. Approximately $900,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund three awards. Applications are due by May 15, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-003.html)

• Applications for research to develop new data on incidence of needlestick injuries and availability of safer needle devices among health care workers. Approximately $325,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund one award. Applications are due by April 27, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-004.html)

• Applications from single states, other government entities such as territories or tribal governments, or consortia of states or other government entities to participate in development of model surveillance systems for multiple kinds of workplace injuries, illnesses, or hazards. Approximately $500,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund two to three awards. Applications are due by May 11, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-007.html)

• Applications from single states, other government entities such as territories or tribal governments, or consortia of states or other government entities to participate in development of model surveillance systems for targeted workplace injuries, illnesses, or hazards. Approximately $500,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund five to six awards. Applications are due by May 11, 2000. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-008.html)

• Applications to foster multidisciplinary research on the adverse pulmonary effects of mixed dusts, such as welding fume, boiler ash, and diesel exhaust particles. Applications are due by April 24, 2000. Approximately $200,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund one award. (www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-00-009.html)

Further information on each announcement is available on the World Wide Web at the address shown. For additional information regarding opportunities under NIOSH extramural research programs, including on-going program announcements under NORA by NIOSH and several Institutes of the National Institutes of Health, contact Roy M. Fleming, Sc.D., Office of Extramural Programs, NIOSH, at (404) 639-3343, fax (404) 639-4616, or e-mail rfleming@cdc.gov.

Information on NORA and on NIOSH research also is available from the NIOSH toll-free information number, 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674) and on the World Wide Web at www.cdc.gov/niosh.