Digital Health Technology and Reciprocal Innovation to Improve Clinical and Public Health Outcomes
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers developing and testing digital health technologies for underserved communities in the U.S. and globally. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. Projects must include reciprocal innovation—bidirectional collaboration between U.S. and low/middle-income country (LMIC) researchers. Activities supported include research on tool development, validation, feasibility testing, and effectiveness evaluation of digital health interventions.
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Key dates
- Jul 2, 2026 Applications open
- Feb 11, 2027 Application deadline in 209 days
- Dec 1, 2027 Award announced
- Dec 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
This initiative will support research on the development, validation, feasibility, and effectiveness of innovative digital health interventions or tools (including mobile health) specifically suited for underserved settings in the U.S. and globally. Research should utilize new or emerging technologies, platforms, systems, and/or analytics to address high priority health problems, expand the evidence base for the use of digital health technology to improve clinical and public health outcomes, and strengthen research collaborations between U.S. and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) researchers. Applications must include reciprocal innovation methodologies – bidirectional and iterative exchange of ideas, resources, and innovation approaches to address shared health challenges in the U.S. and a LMIC. Through this utilization of unique data, environments, and populations in domestic and international contexts, awards will maximize generalizable knowledge produced and optimize potential benefit to U.S. and LMIC populations.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches
- Letters of Support (LMIC partners)
- Data Management Plan
- Facilities and Resources
Program contact
- 👤 FIC Digital Health Research Program
- 📧 FIC-DigitalHealth@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.989 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$52,173,936
-
$50,365,175
-
$40,336,583
-
$38,729,911
-
$34,754,915
-
$26,205,220
-
$20,151,900
-
$15,921,171
-
$14,502,752
-
$14,026,425
Top States by Funding
- NY 14 awards $138.7M
- IN 3 awards $68.1M
- TN 5 awards $58.7M
- CA 8 awards $45.4M
- IL 5 awards $36.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.989). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $67,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $69,732,021 | |
| 2026 est. | $70,429,341 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with research infrastructure. International collaboration with LMIC researchers is required.
What types of digital health technologies are eligible?
Mobile health tools, platforms, systems, and analytics that address high-priority health problems. Technologies must be suited for underserved settings.
Is international collaboration required?
Yes. Applications must include reciprocal innovation—bidirectional exchange with LMIC research partners to address shared health challenges.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong evidence of innovation, clear focus on underserved populations, robust LMIC partnership, and potential for generalizable knowledge. Feasibility planning matters.
What is the typical award duration and funding level?
Duration and amounts not specified. Check the funding opportunity announcement for typical award ranges and project timelines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly describe the digital health innovation and its specific application to underserved settings. Specificity strengthens competitiveness.
- Establish genuine reciprocal partnerships with LMIC researchers early. Tokenistic international collaboration will weaken your proposal.
- Show how your project produces generalizable knowledge applicable to both U.S. and LMIC contexts. Avoid siloed approaches.
- Include a realistic feasibility and validation plan. NIH favors evidence-building for emerging technologies.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment from both U.S. and LMIC partners. Letters of support and prior collaboration history help.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or transactional international partnerships that lack genuine bidirectional innovation. Over-focusing on technology features without addressing end-user needs in underserved settings. Failing to articulate how research benefits both U.S. and LMIC populations equally.
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