The 2025-2029 NIEHS Strategic Plan, titled “Health at the Intersection of People and Their Environments” is the result of a careful analysis of our prior accomplishments, ongoing efforts, and future aspirations. It was developed with extensive input from a diverse group of environmental and health scientists from across many disciplines, public health professionals, community and patient advocates, and the public.

The Strategic Plan reflects a framework where Crosscutting Themes span Research Areas of Emphasis, Capacity and Infrastructure, and Scientific Management and Stewardship.

NIEHS values transparency and engagement in setting research priorities and supports collaborative community involvement in all aspects of the institute’s strategic planning work. Input from external parties is extremely important and was obtained in multiple ways, including workshops, engagement at national meetings and other gatherings, legislative input and directives, community forums, collaboration with other NIH institutes, and from various informal and formal advisory boards, including the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council (NAEHSC) and the Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC).

NIEHS Senior Leadership will identify opportunities for coordination and collaboration across all divisions of the institute to implement the priority approaches reflected in this strategic plan. The initial focus of implementation will include NIEHS Senior Leadership and NIEHS staff leading and contributing to implementation working groups organized around the research areas of emphasis. NIEHS Senior Leadership will identify opportunities for further implementation activi­ties related to capacity and infrastructure and scientific management and stewardship, as well. NIEHS will also proactively pursue opportunities for collaboration and shared leadership of environmental health research relevant to the missions of other NIH ICOs. NIEHS will continue to leverage existing tracking systems and metrics, as well as explore novel ones where needed, to monitor our progress and to communicate about NIEHS activities to a wide range of audiences, including the public we serve.

Our Strategic Framework

The plan reflects a framework where Crosscutting Themes span Research Areas of Emphasis, Capacity and Infrastructure, and Scientific Management and Stewardship.

Crosscutting Themes

NIEHS is committed to a diverse workplace environment where the talents of all individuals are valued and their viewpoints acknowledged, empowering them to successfully contribute to the critical work of NIEHS. Its mission incorporates not just research and the generation of scientific knowledge, but the translation and dissemination of such knowledge.

Research Areas of Emphasis

NIEHS will conduct high-quality, innovative environmental health sciences research on the effects of the environment on biological systems and processes. Its research will continue to focus on environmental exposures of special interest and concern for public health.

Capacity and Infrastructure

NIEHS research activities depend on robust investments in capacity and infrastructure to ensure readiness for their success. It aims to promote a diverse, inclusive culture in the environmental health sciences enterprise, where all members of the environmental health sciences workforce feel empowered.

Scientific Management and Stewardship

NIEHS prioritizes scientific stewardship and operational principles that align with the institute’s commitment to advancing human health and understanding the environment’s impacts on human health. It is is committed to scientific management and stewardship in Public Trust in Science; Sustainability; Review, Evaluation, and Assessment Capabilities; and Leadership Core Values.

Note: The full Strategic Plan document (6MB) contains some content that does not appear on this website including additional overview information and 3 Appendices – Appendix A: NIEHS Statutory Authority and Relevant Mandates; Appendix B: NIEHS Organizational Chart; and Appendix C: Acronyms.