New NIH Funding Opportunity: Standardizing Wearable Device Data (PAR-24-250)
Scope
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is addressing the critical need for data interoperability in digital health. The PAR-24-250 initiative supports the creation of standards for data and metadata collected from personal tracking devices and mobile phones. By establishing uniform formats, the NIMH aims to facilitate the integration of diverse datasets, similar to the impact of the DICOM standard on medical imaging research. The development of these standards aligns with the broader movement toward the FAIR principles—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable—which are essential for robust scientific data management (Wilkinson et al., 2016, Scientific Data).
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to a wide range of organizations, including higher education institutions, non-profits, and for-profit businesses. Small businesses and foreign organizations are also encouraged to apply. The initiative specifically targets projects that can develop standards for both raw and derived data streams from devices such as smart jewelry, activity trackers, and watches.
Partnership
A key requirement for this funding is multi-stakeholder collaboration. Recipients are expected to partner with device manufacturers, the research community, and ethics experts. This coordination is vital to ensure that the proposed standards are not only technically robust but also ethical and likely to be adopted by the hardware industry.
Application Deadlines: June 10, 2026. Letters of Intent are due 30 days prior to submission.
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