NIH Releases Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research

By: Yvette Seger
Thursday, April 9, 2026
On March 26, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released its Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research for Fiscal Years 2026–2030. The plan is the result of an 18-month partnership between NIH’s Disability Health Research Program and the Disability Health Research Coordinating Committee to develop a framework to determine how NIH resources could be best utilized to promote the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities. In addition to an analysis of the current funding landscape for disability health research, the process included an opportunity for stakeholder feedback via a Request for Information on the proposed strategic plan framework [View FASEB’s comments].

The final plan maintains the four goal areas proposed in the initial framework: Research, Workforce, Resources and Infrastructure, and Stewardship. Objectives within each goal area also highlight cross-cutting themes to ensure consideration of whole person health, inclusion of people with disabilities in research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technology as part of implementation. The plan is intended to supplement existing disability health research efforts supported by individual Institutes and Centers while identifying areas for which collaboration with additional individuals and organizations may help advance science to support the health and wellbeing of persons with disabilities.