Jane Simoni, PhD

Director, NIH, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

Dr. Jane M. Simoni assumed the role of NIH Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research and Director of the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) on July 30, 2023. In this capacity, she led OBSSR’s initiatives to advance and synchronize behavioral and social sciences research across NIH, collaborating closely with various NIH Institutes and Centers.

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Simoni dedicated her research to health disparities and resilience among marginalized populations, including those affected by chronic illnesses such as HIV, Latinx, LGBT, and Indigenous communities. Her intervention research focused on the behavioral dimensions of chronic illnesses, utilizing mixed methods and clinical trials to evaluate strategies such as peer support, medical record alerts, provider training, counseling, and mHealth technologies to enhance treatment engagement and health outcomes. Her work harnessed cutting-edge behavioral and social science methodologies and theories to inform the design, efficacy, and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs.

As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Simoni joined NIH from the University of Washington (UW), Seattle, where she served as Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology since 2001. Notably, she was the founding director of the UW Behavioral Research Center for HIV and played a pivotal role in the UW/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research as the co-director, Associate Director of the Behavioral Science Core, and Senior Advisor to the eHealth Scientific Working Group. Dr. Simoni earned her B.A. at Princeton and her Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles, with postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Southern California and Columbia University. A fellow in four divisions of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Simoni is a seasoned grant reviewer and chair for NIH study sections.

Dr. Simoni spearheaded over two dozen research projects, including NIH-funded studies in various global locations. Her body of work encompassed more than 300 publications, with two of her medication adherence-promotion strategies recognized in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Compendium of Evidence-Based Interventions and Best Practices for medication adherence. She also contributed to research and training awards on topics ranging from HIV and mental health to cardiovascular disease and pediatric overweight treatment on both national and global scales. Her research focused on the acceptability of long-acting antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection and the integration of digital technology to enhance intervention impact and dissemination. Dr. Simoni has been an active mentor, engaging diverse and interdisciplinary groups of students and early career investigators, with involvement in over 50 training awards and participation in NIH-funded research education programs.