The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Environmental Justice Working Group, led by NIEHS Deputy Director Trevor Archer, Ph.D., seeks feedback on approaches the NIH can take to support research to advance environmental justice in the U.S. and globally. The group’s recently released Request for Information (RFI) invites comments from communities with environmental justice concerns, scientific researchers, community-based organizations, consumer advocacy groups, service agencies, health care providers, policymakers, and the public.

The RFI addresses the need for research, data collection, and analysis to ensure that all individuals and communities have access to clean environments that are free from the harmful effects of pollution and chemical exposures. The NIH has long supported a research portfolio that explores environmental health disparities research; however, more transformative, solutions-oriented research is needed.

The RFI seeks to identify gaps and opportunities pertaining to environmental justice research and training, as well as capacity-building needs. Responses that focus on the following areas, and related areas not listed, are highly encouraged.

• Transformative environmental justice research and action.
• Scientific infrastructure to support environmental justice research.
• Community partnerships to address environmental injustices.
• Diverse and inclusive workforce to advance environmental justice.
• Science communication and dissemination of research findings.
• Science, research, and data that support federal environmental justice actions.

For more information, read the full RFI: Environmental Justice Research Gaps, Opportunities, and Capacity Building. Reponses are due Dec. 15 and should be submitted electronically at the RFI submission website. Please direct all questions to Lindsey Martin, Ph.D., NIEHS.