Notice Number: NOT-TW-13-011

Key Dates
Release Date: September 12, 2013
Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: Late Fall 2013
First Estimated Application Due Date: Winter 2014
Earliest Estimated Award Date: Fall 2014
Earliest Estimated Start Date: Fall 2014

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
Fogarty International Center (FIC)

Purpose

The Fogarty International Center intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for research on the development or adaptation of mobile health (mHealth) technology for low and middle income countries (LMICs) and the health-related outcomes associated with implementation of the technology. Of highest interest are well-designed multidisciplinary projects that focus on tools or interventions for chronic diseases or technology for disease agnostic applications.

The overall goal of this new initiative is to contribute to the evidence base for the use of mobile technology to improve clinical outcomes and public health while building research capacity and expertise in LMICs in this area.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. 

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2013 with an application due date in Winter 2014.

This FOA will utilize the R21 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Eligibility
Applicants will be required to propose partnerships between at least one U.S. institution and one LMIC institution (with LMIC defined by The World Bank as low-, lower-middle-, or upper-middle-income economies - http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups). Program Directors/Principal Investigators may be employed in either a U.S. or an LMIC institution, but should plan to build capacity in mHealth research in the LMIC institution(s). In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in behavioral science, engineering, computer science, health systems, business, medicine, public health, and/or other relevant disciplines are encouraged.

Research Initiative Details

Among the areas of research encouraged in this initiative are the adaptation, optimization, and evaluation of mHealth tools and/or interventions for the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of chronic diseases or the adaptation and evaluation of disease agnostic applications of mHealth technology. Formative research that is necessary for technology development or implementation of mHealth projects (e.g. research on cultural acceptability) will also be responsive if it is followed by outcomes-based research.

Applicants will be asked to outline a research and development pathway that considers the sustainability of the mHealth research project, interventions and/or tools and, if applicable, the potential for scale-up. Consequently, applicants should consider partnering with individuals in public or private organizations, including health system entities, which could enable future research or implementation efforts within the relevant LMIC.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Laura Povlich, PhD
Fogarty International Center
Telephone: 301-827-2227
Email: laura.povlich@nih.gov