“MSDs can affect every part of a person’s life, both on and off the job,” said Katherine Mendoza, senior director of workplace safety programs at NSC. “These projects underscore our dedication to finding solutions that are grounded in real-world work and centered on people. By investing in both research and practical applications, we are helping employers better understand risk and take meaningful steps to protect their teams."

The R2S grant program, which provides up to $50,000 per project, funds research that can be translated into accessible workplace solutions. Following are the 2026-2027 recipients:

•    Ergami Endoscopy, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, will advance the development of a robotic colonoscope insertion device to reduce risk of endoscopy-related injuries that are prevalent in endoscopists and nurses

•    University of Wisconsin-Madison will study personal protective equipment with embedded sensors to assess movement and ergonomic risk during lifting and overhead tasks

•    ViVA health at work, through its emerging innovation and human-centered design division at ViVID Design Labs, in collaboration with Australian Catholic University and Queensland University of Technology, will develop an AI-enabled framework that integrates ergonomic, psychosocial, organizational and individual risk data to help prioritize MSD prevention strategies for healthcare workers

•    Wichita State University will validate a job rotation optimization tool designed to better balance MSD risk across manufacturing tasks

•    The MSD Solutions Pilot Grant program, which provides up to $20,000 per project, supports MSD Pledge member organizations in testing and evaluating technologies and approaches in workplace settings. Following are the 2026-2027 recipients:

•    Carolina Canners will use SpatialCortex’s wearable sensors to identify material handling risks and evaluate interventions aimed at reducing absences and injuries

•    Compass Group Canada will apply Amp Health’s computer vision technology to evaluate workplace screening and movement programs

•    PIP Safety will use CerebrumEdge’s AI-powered platform to assess and reduce MSD risks in repetitive manufacturing, packaging and warehousing operations

•    Radiometer will deploy Precure’s wearable sensors to measure worker movement and identify ergonomic risks across job functions

•    Volvo Car Gent will evaluate MATE’s digital twin technology to quantify ergonomic risk and improve return-to-work planning

Through these grants, NSC continues to support efforts that move research into action and help organizations build safer workplaces. This year’s recipients will have the opportunity to present their findings at the 2027 NSC Safety Congress & Expo.

For more information, visit nsc.org/msd.