The Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design & Worker Well-Being (henceforth, Carolina Center) announces the availability of funding for 2-3 pilot projects that align with the Total Worker Health® framework. Each project could be funded up to $20,000. Pilot project proposals must be received electronically by 8am, April 4, 2025. Funding awards will be announced by April 15, 2025.
Our goal is to cultivate innovative research that builds an evidence base for Total Worker Health®, which is defined as “policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.” The Total Worker Health (“TWH”) approach “prioritizes a hazard-free work environment for all workers” by addressing prioritized, unresolved, and critically important occupational health and safety (OHS) issues. In short, the TWH approach integrates the areas of occupational safety and worker health into a single framework.
The goal of the Carolina Center’s Pilot Projects Program (PPP) is to cultivate innovative research that builds an evidence base for Total Worker Health (TWH), which is defined as “policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts to advance worker well-being”. The TWH approach “prioritizes a hazard-free work environment for all workers” by addressing prioritized, unresolved, and critically important occupational health and safety (OHS) issues. In short, the TWH approach integrates the areas of occupational safety and worker health into a single framework. The TWH framework reflects a more holistic approach to understanding how to promote a healthier workforce.
Deadline: April 4, 2025
Investigators from several universities and/or research institutions in the Southeast are eligible to apply (see list at end of document). Postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty are eligible to apply as PIs so long as they have included a mentor with expertise in TWH and/or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). These pilot funds may be used by new investigators to collect data needed to successfully apply for other larger grants. Senior faculty who want to pursue a new interest in TWH are also eligible to apply because we want to encourage investigators from other fields of study (e.g., economics, law, politics, health services, business, and more) to apply their expertise to TWH research. Investigators who identify from an underserved or underrepresented group are particularly encouraged to apply.
Awards will have a maximum 6-month duration, with funding up to $20,000 for a pilot project inclusive of all costs (direct and indirect cost). Prior to awarding any funds, IRB approval must be obtained for projects including human subjects, after which the project will be reviewed for final approval by the Carolina Center PPP Co-Directors. Funds awarded must be spent by August 30, 2025.