Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 376
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-19-376) supports exploratory and early-stage projects that use mobile health (mHealth) approaches to address important health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The focus is on creating and testing innovative mHealth interventions or tools that fit LMIC contexts and that make use of new or emerging technologies, digital platforms, systems approaches, or advanced analytics. In practical terms, NIH is looking for research that moves beyond simple phone-based messaging and instead pushes toward genuinely innovative, context-appropriate solutions that can be shown to work, be feasible to implement, and meaningfully improve clinical or public health outcomes.
A key goal of the program is to catalyze multidisciplinary innovation in global health by building a stronger evidence base for mHealth. Projects are expected to study one or more stages of the lifecycle of an mHealth solution, such as development and design, validation of measures or performance, feasibility and usability in real-world environments, and early evidence of effectiveness. The FOA is designed to help generate credible data on whether a mobile or digital approach actually improves health outcomes, strengthens service delivery, or supports public health practice in LMIC settings, rather than only demonstrating technical functionality.
The funding mechanism is an R21/R33 phased innovation structure. This typically allows teams to begin with an exploratory, developmental phase (R21) to build and refine the approach and produce strong preliminary data, and then transition to a second phase (R33) to expand testing and generate more robust evidence, assuming predefined milestones are met. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the aims, but a clinical trial is not required. This gives flexibility for projects that are more tool-development or implementation focused, as well as those that are ready to test outcomes in a clinical or community setting.
Partnership is a central requirement. Applicants must propose a collaboration that includes at least one U.S.-based institution and at least one LMIC institution. This is meant to ensure that the work is grounded in local priorities, realities, and capacity, and that the research strengthens mHealth research capability in LMICs rather than treating LMIC sites only as field locations. Capacity strengthening is an explicit program goal, so competitive applications generally align technical innovation with training, shared leadership, equitable collaboration practices, and sustained local benefit.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to global mHealth research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal governments and organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations. The FOA also highlights a range of additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, non-U.S. entities/foreign organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility reflects NIH's intent to encourage diverse partnerships and practical, on-the-ground innovation capacity.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant in the education and health-related activity categories, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.173, 93.242, 93.286, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, and 93.865. The original closing date shown in the source information is December 3, 2020, and the record creation date is September 13, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which generally means applicants need to consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance for the specific participating institutes and centers to understand typical budget ranges, project periods, and any institute-specific priorities.
Overall, this FOA is aimed at teams that can combine global health expertise with mobile and digital innovation, produce rigorous evidence about feasibility and outcomes, and do so through a genuine U.S.-LMIC partnership that strengthens research capacity in LMIC settings.Apply for PAR 19 376
- 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, 93.399, 93.853, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-09-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-12-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of the NIH funding opportunity PAR-19-376?
This opportunity supports exploratory and early-stage research projects that use mobile health (mHealth) approaches to address important health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The emphasis is on developing and testing innovative, context-appropriate digital or mobile solutions and generating credible evidence that they are feasible to implement and can improve clinical or public health outcomes.
What is the official title of this funding opportunity?
The official title is "Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-19-376).
What kinds of projects does NIH want to fund under this FOA?
NIH is looking for mHealth projects that go beyond basic phone-based messaging and instead use new or emerging technologies, digital platforms, systems approaches, or advanced analytics. The projects should be tailored to LMIC contexts and designed to generate meaningful evidence about real-world feasibility and health impact.
Does the FOA require the project to include a clinical trial?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which means a clinical trial may be proposed if it matches the project aims, but it is not required.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean in practical terms?
It means the FOA allows flexibility. Applicants may propose research that includes an outcomes-focused clinical or community evaluation (including a clinical trial), or propose work that is more focused on tool or intervention development, usability/feasibility testing, validation, or early evidence of effectiveness without necessarily conducting a clinical trial.
What is the R21/R33 phased innovation structure?
This FOA uses an R21/R33 phased approach. The first phase (R21) supports exploratory or developmental work to build and refine the mHealth approach and generate preliminary data. If predefined milestones are achieved, the project can transition to the second phase (R33) to expand testing and produce more robust evidence.
Is transition from R21 to R33 automatic?
No. The structure is designed so that the R33 phase depends on meeting predefined milestones during the R21 phase.
What stages of an mHealth solution lifecycle can be proposed?
Projects are expected to study one or more stages of the mHealth lifecycle, such as development and design, validation of measures or performance, feasibility and usability in real-world environments, and early evidence of effectiveness.
Is technical functionality alone enough to be competitive?
The FOA emphasizes generating credible data on whether a mobile or digital approach improves health outcomes, strengthens service delivery, or supports public health practice in LMIC settings. Demonstrating that a tool works technically, by itself, is not the focus.
What makes an mHealth approach "innovative" under this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, innovation includes using emerging technologies, modern digital platforms, systems approaches, or advanced analytics, and designing solutions that are appropriate for LMIC contexts and can be tested for feasibility and meaningful outcomes (not just basic messaging interventions).
Are partnerships required?
Yes. Applicants must propose a collaboration that includes at least one U.S.-based institution and at least one LMIC institution.
Why does NIH require a U.S.-LMIC partnership?
The partnership requirement is intended to ensure the research is grounded in local priorities and realities, and that the work strengthens mHealth research capacity in LMICs rather than using LMIC sites only as field locations.
Is capacity strengthening in LMICs part of the program goals?
Yes. Capacity strengthening is described as an explicit program goal. Competitive applications are expected to align innovation with elements like training, shared leadership, equitable collaboration practices, and sustained local benefit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The FOA includes many organization types such as state/county/city/township/special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations).
Are non-U.S. entities or foreign organizations eligible?
Yes. The provided information explicitly includes non-U.S. entities/foreign organizations among eligible groups.
Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible groups.
Are minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among the additional eligible groups.
What research outcomes is NIH trying to build evidence around?
The FOA aims to build evidence on whether mHealth or digital approaches improve health outcomes, strengthen service delivery, or support public health practice in LMIC settings. It also emphasizes feasibility and usability in real-world environments.
What is the main geographic focus of the supported work?
The focus is on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including solutions designed to fit LMIC contexts and partnerships that include LMIC institutions.
What are the activity categories associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary NIH grant in the education and health-related activity categories.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.173, 93.242, 93.286, 93.313, 93.399, 93.853, and 93.865.
What is the closing date listed in the provided source information?
The original closing date shown in the provided information is December 3, 2020.
What is the record creation date listed in the provided source information?
The record creation date shown is September 13, 2019.
Is the award ceiling specified?
No. The provided source information states that the award ceiling is not specified.
Is the expected number of awards specified?
No. The provided source information states that the expected number of awards is not specified.
Where should applicants look for budget ranges or project period expectations?
Based on the information provided, applicants are expected to consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance for the specific participating institutes and centers to understand typical budget ranges, project periods, and any institute-specific priorities.
What types of expertise does this FOA seem designed to bring together?
The FOA is aimed at multidisciplinary teams that can combine global health expertise with mobile and digital innovation and produce rigorous evidence about feasibility and outcomes in LMIC settings.
What is the overall emphasis of the program?
The overall emphasis is on innovative, context-appropriate mHealth solutions for LMICs, tested through rigorous research that generates credible evidence of feasibility and meaningful clinical or public health impact, delivered through genuine U.S.-LMIC partnerships that strengthen LMIC research capacity.
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