Contacts by research area

This program supports research to strengthen the healthcare response to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies. The main focus is the role and impact of digital health interventions to address access, delivery, and effectiveness of health assessments and interventions for secondary effects during and following the pandemic, particularly in populations who experience health disparities and vulnerable populations.

High priority research areas include:

• Applications that propose digital health interventions that address health disparities or focus particularly on vulnerable populations
• Digital health interventions being tested should be based on existing social and behavioral science theories as well as best practice healthcare approaches
• Interventions that take advantage of the unique functionality of mobile and wireless devices
• Studies designed to test if the proposed digital health intervention yields significant reductions in symptoms in individuals who exhibit clinically significant symptoms and/or functional impairment at baseline
• Studies that utilize software, devices, and systems that are interoperable with existing infrastructure such that resulting data is interoperable with relevant health information systems where applicable
• Studies that collect data through well-established assessments and measures and leverage common data elements
• Applications that test generalizable principles or approaches to using technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of assessment and the effectiveness and quality of intervention and service delivery
• Studies that address known challenges with uptake and adherence/sustained use of technology-based approaches and attention to privacy and other safety/ethical considerations associated with the use of technology for research and clinical purpose

Health disparity and vulnerable populations include:

• Racial and ethnic minorities
• Less privileged socioeconomic status
• Rural residents
• Sexual and gender minorities
• Residents of chronic care facilities
• Community-dwelling older adults
• Pregnant women
• Children
• Persons with cognitive impairment or dementia
• Homeless individuals
• Incarcerated people or those involved with the criminal justice system
• Individuals experiencing substance use disorder or severe mental illness
• People with visual, hearing, communication, or mobility impairment
• The uninsured
• Medical personnel with direct patient care, other support staff, home health aides, as well as family and informal caregivers; emergency responders; and front line workers in essential businesses or services

Eligible applicants include:

• Higher education institutions
  • Public/state controlled institutions
  • Private institutions
• Nonprofit organizations
  • With 501(c)(3) status
  • Without 501(c)(3) status
  • Native American tribal organizations
  • Faith-based or community-based organizations
  • Regional organizations
• Governments
  • State
  • County
  • City or township
  • Special districts
  • Federally recognized Indian/Native American tribal governments
  • Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)
  • Eligible agencies of the federal government
  • U.S. territory or possession
• Other
  • Independent school districts
  • Public housing authorities
  • Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • For-profit organizations

Application budgets are limited to $750,000 per year for a maximum of 3 years.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.