Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 14 028
Apply for PAR 14 028
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mobile Health Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.399 Cancer Control 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 11, 2013 and posted on Dec 11, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 19, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH grant opportunity "Mobile Health Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-14-028) is a discretionary research grant that supports exploratory and developmental projects aimed at improving health in low and middle income countries through mobile health technology. The central goal is to fund early-stage, innovative research that either creates new mHealth tools or adapts existing mobile technologies so they fit the realities of LMIC settings, and then studies the health-related outcomes that result when those tools are implemented in the real world. In other words, this announcement is not just about building an app or device; it is equally about learning whether the technology actually produces measurable benefits for health when deployed where infrastructure, resources, and user needs may differ significantly from high-income contexts.
The FOA places special emphasis on well-designed, multidisciplinary projects. That typically means proposals that combine expertise from fields like medicine and public health with engineering, computer science, behavioral science, implementation science, health economics, and local in-country partners who understand the on-the-ground constraints. The highest-priority topics include (1) tools or interventions for chronic diseases and (2) disease-agnostic or cross-cutting technologies that can be used across multiple conditions or health system needs. Chronic disease interest reflects the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases in LMICs and the long-term nature of prevention and care, where mobile tools can potentially support adherence, monitoring, follow-up, and patient-provider communication over time. Cross-cutting technologies are also explicitly encouraged, such as platforms that could support screening, triage, referrals, data capture, clinical decision support, remote consultation, or patient engagement across many disease areas rather than being limited to a single diagnosis.
This is an R21 mechanism, meaning it is intended for exploratory or proof-of-concept work rather than large-scale definitive trials. The award ceiling listed is $125,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The posting and creation date were December 11, 2013, and the opportunity’s final closing date was February 19, 2015, with an archive date of March 22, 2015. While those dates indicate the specific FOA has been archived, the summary still reflects the key design intent: to catalyze early research that tests feasibility, usability, acceptability, and signals of effectiveness for mHealth innovations tailored to LMIC contexts, along with careful measurement of health and implementation outcomes.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and a range of designated institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions. Importantly for global health work, non-U.S. entities are eligible to apply, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may participate. Foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are allowed, signaling that projects can be led by or substantially carried out with partners based in LMICs, which is often essential for designing tools that are culturally appropriate, usable, and sustainable in the intended settings.
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning mental health, child health and human development, cancer research, technological innovations to improve human health, and international research and training. That spread reflects the wide range of possible health applications NIH anticipated for mobile platforms, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment support and long-term disease management, as well as technologies that strengthen health systems and data flows rather than targeting only one disease area.
Operationally, the announcement directs applicants to the NIH funding page for full details and provides NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) contact information for access or linking issues. The practical takeaway is that NIH sought innovative, early-stage mHealth projects grounded in LMIC needs, built by multidisciplinary teams, and evaluated in terms of real health outcomes and implementation performance, with broad eligibility that includes both U.S. and international institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Mobile Health Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-14-028.
What type of grant mechanism is this (and what does R21 mean here)?
This is an NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended to support exploratory and developmental research projects. In practical terms, it is aimed at early-stage, innovative work (such as feasibility, usability, acceptability, and proof-of-concept), rather than large, definitive trials.
What is the central goal of the FOA?
The central goal is to fund early research that improves health in low and middle income countries (LMICs) through mobile health (mHealth) technology. The focus is not only on creating or adapting mobile tools, but also on studying the health-related outcomes that occur when those tools are implemented in real-world LMIC settings.
Is this FOA only about building a mobile app or device?
No. The announcement emphasizes that projects should go beyond development alone and include evaluation of whether the technology produces measurable health benefits when deployed in LMIC contexts, where infrastructure, resources, and user needs may differ from high-income settings.
What kinds of projects are considered a fit for this FOA?
The FOA supports exploratory and developmental mHealth projects that either (1) create new mHealth tools or (2) adapt existing mobile technologies to fit LMIC realities, and then examine health outcomes and implementation outcomes when those tools are used in the real world.
What does the FOA mean by adapting technology to "LMIC realities"?
Based on the description, this refers to tailoring mobile health technologies so they match on-the-ground constraints and needs in LMIC settings, including differences in infrastructure, available resources, and how intended users interact with technology in daily life.
What research areas or topics are emphasized as highest priority?
The FOA highlights two highest-priority topic areas: (1) tools or interventions for chronic diseases, and (2) disease-agnostic or cross-cutting technologies that can be used across multiple conditions or health system needs.
Why does the FOA emphasize chronic diseases?
The FOA links this emphasis to the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases in LMICs and the long-term nature of prevention and care. Mobile tools may be useful for long-term support such as adherence, monitoring, follow-up, and patient-provider communication over time.
What are examples of "cross-cutting" or disease-agnostic technologies mentioned in the FOA summary?
The summary explicitly encourages cross-cutting platforms and technologies that could support functions like screening, triage, referrals, data capture, clinical decision support, remote consultation, or patient engagement across many disease areas rather than being limited to a single diagnosis.
What kinds of outcomes does NIH expect projects to measure?
The description points to measuring both health outcomes (whether the technology produces measurable health benefits) and implementation outcomes such as feasibility, usability, and acceptability when implemented in real-world LMIC environments.
Does the FOA encourage multidisciplinary teams?
Yes. The FOA places special emphasis on well-designed, multidisciplinary projects.
What disciplines or expertise areas are specifically called out as relevant?
The summary indicates that competitive projects typically combine expertise from medicine and public health with fields such as engineering, computer science, behavioral science, implementation science, and health economics, along with local in-country partners who understand practical constraints.
Are in-country partners in LMICs encouraged or expected?
The description strongly emphasizes local, in-country partners as important to understanding on-the-ground constraints and to designing tools that are culturally appropriate, usable, and sustainable for the intended setting.
What is the maximum award amount stated in the summary?
The award ceiling listed is $125,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The summary states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The summary indicates the FOA has been archived. It lists a final closing date of February 19, 2015, and an archive date of March 22, 2015.
When was this opportunity posted/created?
The posting and creation date listed is December 11, 2013.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The summary lists eligible applicants as including U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and multiple designated institution types.
Which designated institution types are explicitly mentioned as eligible?
The summary explicitly mentions eligibility for institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. The summary states that non-U.S. entities are eligible to apply, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization participate?
Yes. The summary states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may participate.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this FOA?
Yes. The summary indicates that foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed, which supports projects that are led by or substantially carried out with partners based in LMICs.
What CFDA areas are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning areas such as mental health, child health and human development, cancer research, technological innovations to improve human health, and international research and training.
What does it mean that the FOA spans multiple CFDA areas?
Based on the summary, it reflects that NIH anticipated a wide range of possible health applications for mobile platforms, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment support, long-term disease management, and health system/data-flow strengthening approaches (not just single-disease projects).
Where does the FOA direct applicants for full details?
The announcement directs applicants to the NIH funding page for full details.
Who is listed as a contact for access or linking issues?
The summary notes NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) contact information is provided for access or linking issues.
What is the overall practical takeaway of this funding opportunity?
The summary describes a program designed to catalyze early-stage mHealth innovations tailored to LMIC contexts, built by multidisciplinary teams (including local partners), and evaluated for real-world health outcomes and implementation performance, with broad eligibility that includes both U.S. and international institutions.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 14 028) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| U.S South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (R01) Apply for RFA AI 14 009 Funding Number: RFA AI 14 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| U.S South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (R21) Apply for RFA AI 14 010 Funding Number: RFA AI 14 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01) Apply for PA 14 044 Funding Number: PA 14 044 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Direct Phase II SBIR Grants to Support Biomedical Technology Development Apply for PAR 14 088 Funding Number: PAR 14 088 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Design and Development of Novel Technologies for Healthy Independent Living (R21) Apply for PAR 14 119 Funding Number: PAR 14 119 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Technologies for Healthy Independent Living (R01) Apply for PAR 14 118 Funding Number: PAR 14 118 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25) Apply for RFA NS 14 010 Funding Number: RFA NS 14 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for NIH Industry Program Discovering Pediatric New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules (UH2/UH3) Apply for PAR 14 210 Funding Number: PAR 14 210 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for NIH Industry Program Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules (UH3) Apply for PAR 14 211 Funding Number: PAR 14 211 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for NIH Industry Program Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules (UH2/UH3) Apply for PAR 14 212 Funding Number: PAR 14 212 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pre application for the NIH Industry Program Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules (X02) Apply for PAR 14 213 Funding Number: PAR 14 213 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions (R21) Apply for PA 14 243 Funding Number: PA 14 243 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Basic Research on HIV Persistence (R21) Apply for PAR 14 248 Funding Number: PAR 14 248 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Basic Research on HIV Persistence (R01) Apply for PAR 14 247 Funding Number: PAR 14 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes (R01) Apply for PAR 14 279 Funding Number: PAR 14 279 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| U.S. China Program for Research Toward a Cure for HIV/AIDS (R01) Apply for RFA AI 14 057 Funding Number: RFA AI 14 057 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,350,000 |
| High Throughput Screening (HTS) to Discover Chemical Probes (R21) Apply for PAR 14 283 Funding Number: PAR 14 283 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (U44) Apply for PAR 14 292 Funding Number: PAR 14 292 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (UH2/UH3) Apply for PAR 14 293 Funding Number: PAR 14 293 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition Research Training for Career Development of Junior Faculty in Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Institutions (D43) Apply for RFA TW 14 003 Funding Number: RFA TW 14 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
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