RFAs: Mobile Health – Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries

The overall goal of the program is to catalyze innovation through multidisciplinary research that addresses global health problems, develop an evidence base for the use of mHealth technology to improve clinical and public health outcomes, and strengthen mHealth research capacity in LMICs.

This NOFO provides support for up to two years (R21 phase) for technology development and feasibility studies, followed by a possible transition to expanded research support (R33 phase) for validation, larger-scale feasibility, and effectiveness studies. Transition to the R33 depends on the completion of applicant-defined milestones, as well as program priorities and the availability of funds. All applicants must address both the R21 and R33 phases.

In the context of this NOFO, mHealth is defined as the use of mobile and wireless devices (cell phones, tablets, etc.) to improve health outcomes, health care services, and health research. The mHealth technology studied in proposed projects may include external hardware and/or software components for mobile or wireless devices. New or emerging technology, platforms, systems, and/or analytics should be incorporated. For the purposes of this NOFO, research that proposes solely SMS-based text messaging interventions will not be considered responsive.

Objectives

• This NOFO encourages research projects that study the development, feasibility, validation, and effectiveness of mHealth tools and/or interventions for the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of specific health conditions or for disease agnostic/cross-cutting applications. Applicants are encouraged to propose research projects that have the potential to provide an understanding of principles underlying effective mHealth interventions or tools that are generalizable to the field. Research projects may include some mHealth technology development along with feasibility, acceptability, usability, validation, and effectiveness studies. User-centered and iterative design are highly encouraged, as is taking a systems science approach, during development stages. Applications should include as rigorous study designs as possible.
• The proposed research should be divided into the R21 and R33 phases as appropriate, with the milestone-driven R21 demonstrating initial feasibility of the mHealth intervention or tool followed by further validation, feasibility, and/or effectiveness studies in the R33 phase.
• This initiative aims to support projects that adapt or develop technologies that are appropriate for LMIC settings. A plethora of mHealth applications and devices have been developed in high-income countries. However, these technologies are not necessarily suitable for the needs of LMICs. Research that focuses on the problems and constraints in LMIC environments should produce more effective interventions and tools and may result in more sustainable mHealth use, especially if there is involvement from LMIC collaborators, such as businesses, hospitals, or governments.

Specific Research Interests 

• The Fogarty International Center (FIC) is dedicated to advancing the mission of the NIH by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training future scientists to address global health needs.
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recognizes the potential for mobile communication technologies to: contribute to prevention of avoidable cancers by promoting healthy lifestyles and behaviors; support early detection, when the opportunities for curing or controlling the cancer are optimal; facilitate accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning; support reliable communications between all members of the care team, including the patient, during treatment; and offer an unbroken system of support during survivorship and at end-of-life.
• The National Eye Institute (NEI) encourages innovative applications with the goal of identifying mobile health tools or technologies that aid in the screening, early detection, prevention, diagnosis, assessment, treatment or management of eye diseases and vision disorders.
• The mission of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is to improve health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies.
• The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is seeking innovative approaches to achieving its mission.
• The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) conducts and supports research in 7 scientific program areas: hearing, balance/vestibular, voice, speech, language, taste and smell.
• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is interested in supporting research on the development and/or innovative application of cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable digital technologies to improve the accessibility, delivery, quality or effectiveness of mental health care and/or HIV prevention or care in LMICs to address the global mental health burden.
• The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is part of the Office of the Director (OD), NIH, and is interested in research on development, validation, feasibility, and evaluation of mobile technologies for nutrient status assessment, dietary intake assessment, and compliance with recommendations for food and dietary supplement intake during special life stages.
• The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) is part of OD/NIH, and works with the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) to advance rigorous research addressing women’s health issues.

Funding Information

• The R21 phase may not exceed $125,000 in direct costs in any single year of the R21 phase. The R33 phase may not exceed $200,000 in direct costs in any single year of the R33 phase
• Award Project Period: The project period is limited to 2 years for the R21 phase and up to 3 years for the R33 phase. The total project period may not exceed 5 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Higher Education Institutions:
  • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
  • Private Institutions of Higher Education
• The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
  • Hispanic-serving Institutions
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
  • Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  • Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
• Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education:
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• For-Profit Organizations:
  • Small Businesses
  • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
• Local Governments:
  • State Governments
  • County Governments
  • City or Township Governments
  • Special District Governments
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
  • Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
• Federal Governments:
  • Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
  • U.S. Territory or Possession
• Other:
  • Independent School Districts
  • Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
  • Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
  • Regional Organizations
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)
• Foreign Organizations:
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply
  • Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.

For more information, visit United States Department of Health and Human Services.