NIOSH National Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury (U54)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a funding opportunity to establish a National Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury and Illness. This initiative is administered through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which focuses on reducing workplace hazards and improving safety outcomes across high-risk industries. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors present persistent risks, particularly for children and adolescents who live or work in these environments. This funding opportunity is designed to address these risks through a coordinated national effort. The purpose of the program is to support a single National Children’s Center that will conduct comprehensive research, education, outreach, and translation of findings into practical safety improvements. The Center is expected to operate at a national scale and collaborate with federal partners, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and community organizations. Core activities include improving data collection related to youth injuries and fatalities, identifying gaps in existing research, and developing interventions that enhance safety and health outcomes for youth in agricultural settings. Funding will support a wide range of activities including research studies, implementation of safety interventions, evaluation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation, and dissemination of best practices. The Center must demonstrate the ability to integrate research with practical applications and maintain strong partnerships across sectors. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, allowing recipients to focus resources on programmatic activities. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and private sector entities. However, foreign organizations and non domestic components of U.S. entities are not eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to operate a nationally focused center and engage in multidisciplinary collaboration. The application process will require electronic submission through the appropriate federal grants platform by the stated deadline. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, applicants should anticipate requirements typical of cooperative agreements, including detailed project narratives, budgets, and evidence of organizational capacity. The evaluation process will likely emphasize scientific merit, national impact, collaboration strategy, and feasibility of implementation. The estimated timeline indicates that the opportunity will be posted in December 2026, with applications due by March 3, 2027. Awards are expected to be announced by August 30, 2027, with a project start date of September 30, 2027. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring, and only one award is anticipated under this funding cycle. For further information, applicants may contact the designated program official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Demonstrate strong national scope and partnerships across research, industry, and community stakeholders; emphasize translation of research into practice