Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 318

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 318

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-23-318. This program supports exploratory and developmental research focused on mobile health (mHealth) interventions and tools that are designed specifically for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The emphasis is on innovations that take advantage of new or emerging technologies, platforms, systems, or analytic approaches, with the intent of generating practical evidence about what works, for whom, and under what real-world conditions in LMIC settings.

At its core, the NOFO is looking for projects that move beyond general interest in digital health and instead tackle the full pathway needed to make mHealth useful and credible in LMIC contexts. That includes the development of novel tools, validation of measures or systems, feasibility and usability testing, and research on effectiveness for improving clinical outcomes and/or public health outcomes. The funding announcement is deliberately broad about health areas so long as the work addresses meaningful global health problems and produces knowledge that strengthens the evidence base for mHealth adoption and scale. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose a project with or without a clinical trial component, depending on what is appropriate for the stage of innovation and the research questions being tested.

A central requirement is partnership: every application must include collaboration between at least one U.S. institution and at least one LMIC institution. This is not framed as a minor administrative detail but as a program goal tied to capacity strengthening and sustainability. The intent is to promote multidisciplinary, cross-institutional work that builds mHealth research capability in LMICs, supports locally grounded innovation, and increases the likelihood that the resulting tools and findings are relevant to local health systems, infrastructure constraints, and user needs.

The activity uses the NIH R21/R33 mechanism, which is commonly used to support early-stage exploratory work (R21) with the possibility of transitioning into a next phase (R33) when predefined milestones are met. In practice, this structure is meant to encourage high-potential ideas while still pushing projects toward measurable progress, such as demonstrating feasibility, validating an approach, or producing preliminary effectiveness data that can justify later-stage testing or implementation. The award ceiling listed in the source data is $125,000. The opportunity’s original closing date is March 20, 2026, and the posting shows a creation date of December 6, 2023.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based and non-U.S. entities, reflecting the global and cross-sector nature of mHealth work. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other categories. The NOFO also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations, regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth signals that NIH is open to proposals led by academic teams, health systems, community organizations, and technology-oriented groups, as long as the science, partnerships, and relevance to LMIC needs are strong.

Overall, this opportunity is designed to spark practical innovation in mobile health for LMICs, generate credible evidence on performance and outcomes, and reinforce long-term research capacity through genuine U.S.-LMIC collaboration. It is best suited to teams that can combine technical development (such as mobile platforms, sensors, decision-support tools, or analytics) with rigorous evaluation methods and on-the-ground implementation knowledge in LMIC health environments.

• 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/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.242, 93.286, 93.313, 93.393, 93.399, 93.853, 93.865, 93.867, 93.989.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-03-20. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 23 318

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