Application Deadline: March 20, 2026
Researchers and organizations working on innovative mobile health (mHealth) solutions for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) should take note of an important funding opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This program supports exploratory and developmental research aimed at advancing mobile technologies that can improve health outcomes in resource-limited settings. The full application deadline is March 20, 2026.
Overview of the Funding Opportunity
This NIH funding opportunity encourages high-impact research focused on the development, feasibility, validation, and effectiveness of emerging mHealth technologies tailored to LMIC contexts. The award uses a phased approach, beginning with an exploratory phase and allowing for expansion into a larger research phase if predefined milestones are met.
Projects are expected to go beyond basic implementation studies and instead examine how innovative technologies, platforms, systems, or analytics can address real-world global health challenges. Emphasis is placed on generating evidence that can inform scalability, sustainability, and broader public health impact.
Why This Opportunity Is Important
Mobile technologies are increasingly accessible worldwide and have enormous potential to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and health system performance. However, many mHealth tools still lack rigorous evidence supporting their effectiveness, particularly in low-resource environments. This funding opportunity aims to close that gap by supporting research that is both scientifically rigorous and contextually relevant, while also strengthening global research partnerships.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible applicants include universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, government organizations, tribal entities, and international institutions. Applications proposing research in LMICs should meaningfully involve investigators and institutions from the countries where the work will be conducted. Strong, equitable collaborations are an important component of competitive applications.
Key Date
- Full application deadline: March 20, 2026 (by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization)
Applicants are encouraged to begin planning early to allow sufficient time for required registrations and coordination with collaborators.
Final Thoughts
This NIH funding opportunity represents a valuable chance to support innovative mobile health research with the potential to make a lasting impact in low and middle-income countries. Teams developing novel mHealth tools, digital platforms, or data-driven health interventions should consider whether this program aligns with their goals and prepare accordingly well ahead of the March 2026 deadline.
Read the full funding opportunity announcement here:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-242.html
