mHealth Tools for Individuals with Chronic Conditions to Promote Effective Patient-Provider Communication, Adherence to Treatment and Self-Management (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 386

FAQs: NIH PA-18-386 (R01) - mHealth Tools for Chronic Conditions

What is PA-18-386 funding?

PA-18-386 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports R01 research projects focused on developing and evaluating mobile health (mHealth) tools for people living with chronic conditions.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The main goal is to strengthen patient-provider communication, improve adherence to prescribed treatments, and support day-to-day self-management for individuals with chronic conditions using mobile or wireless technologies.

What kinds of research projects are supported under this opportunity?

This opportunity supports research projects that create and/or rigorously test mHealth interventions designed to collect health information outside the clinic, securely transmit it to clinicians or specialists, and provide timely, individualized feedback to patients.

What types of mHealth tools are considered responsive to this announcement?

Examples of mHealth solutions mentioned include smartphone apps, text messaging systems, wearable-linked platforms, remote monitoring tools, and other mobile or wireless technologies that help patients and providers stay connected between visits.

How does this program expect mHealth tools to improve care?

The program emphasizes continuous support between office visits by enabling actionable, measurable communication that can reduce delays in care, improve consistency in following treatment plans, and ultimately improve health outcomes.

What does the announcement mean by improving communication in "actionable and measurable" ways?

It highlights interventions that generate communication and data that can lead to clear next steps (for patients and/or providers) and that can be evaluated objectively, such as alerts when follow-up is needed and feedback loops that track progress over time.

What intervention features are specifically mentioned as potential approaches?

The announcement describes potential approaches including patient education and coaching, structured goal setting, automated or tailored reminders (for medications, appointments, or self-care tasks), symptom and biomarker tracking, and feedback loops that show progress and notify providers when action is needed.

Is this funding opportunity limited to building new tools, or can it support testing and evaluation too?

It explicitly encourages both the creation of new mHealth interventions and rigorous testing of these approaches.

Does the proposed research have to include a clinical trial?

No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not include a clinical trial, depending on the research aims.

Who is the target population for the mHealth tools funded by this opportunity?

The target population is people living with chronic conditions, with an emphasis on tools that support ongoing management and communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

Is there a stated priority for underserved populations?

Yes. The announcement highlights specific interest in research that includes underserved populations and recognizes the potential for mobile tools to reduce barriers to care.

What kinds of barriers for underserved populations does the announcement discuss?

It points to barriers related to geography, limited access to specialty care, transportation challenges, and broader resource constraints, especially where remote communication can connect rural or remote patients with providers in urban centers.

What design and implementation considerations for diverse communities are aligned with the announcement?

Projects that address disparities in access and that consider digital literacy, culturally appropriate design, affordability, and real-world usability in diverse communities align with stated priorities.

What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports substantial, multi-year research programs.

What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

The funding opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a discretionary grant program.

What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The announcement is associated with CFDA numbers 93.286 and 93.361.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as government entities, educational institutions, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

What types of government entities are listed as eligible?

Eligible government entities include state, county, city/township, and special district governments.

What types of educational institutions are eligible?

Eligible educational institutions include public and state-controlled universities, private institutions of higher education, and independent school districts.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.

Are nonprofits eligible, and do they need 501(c)(3) status?

Nonprofits are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not, based on the information provided.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are organizations that serve specific communities explicitly encouraged or recognized?

Yes. The announcement notes interest and eligibility for organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. (foreign) entities.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the eligibility information provided.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.

What is the closing date listed in the provided record?

The listed closing date in the provided record is 2021-01-07.

Does the summary specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

What should applicants do if they need budget expectations or details about likely awards?

Based on the summary, applicants would typically look to the full funding announcement and NIH guidance for budget expectations, study section considerations, and any institute- or disease-area-specific priorities that may shape funding decisions.

What is the basic concept behind why mHealth is considered practical in this program?

The program is grounded in the idea that widespread cellular coverage and increasingly capable smartphones make it practical and relatively low-cost to collect health information from patients outside clinics, transmit it securely to clinicians or specialists, and deliver timely feedback.

What role does remote monitoring play in the types of projects envisioned?

Remote monitoring tools are explicitly included among the types of mHealth solutions envisioned, particularly where they support ongoing tracking (for example, symptoms or biomarkers) and communication between patients and providers between visits.