Mobile Technologies Extending Reach of Primary Care for Substance-Use-Disorders (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 19 022

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 19 022

The Mobile Technologies Extending Reach of Primary Care for Substance-Use-Disorders (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-19-022) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) small business grant focused on creating and testing a prototype mobile or tablet application that can be used in U.S. primary care settings to support follow-up care for patients with risky or problematic substance use. The core idea is to give primary care providers a practical, low-cost, and easy-to-use digital tool that helps them extend the impact of brief interventions beyond the clinic visit, especially when time, staffing, and access to specialty treatment are limited.

A central requirement is that the application deliver timely, tailored feedback to patients after they have received an intervention for risky substance use. The tailoring is meant to be driven by patient-reported answers and should align with the person s level of substance-use risk as determined by validated screening and assessment tools. In practice, that means the app is expected to do more than generic reminders. It should take structured inputs from patients, interpret those inputs in the context of established measures, and then respond with feedback that matches the individual s needs and current risk level. The feedback should reinforce self-monitoring and self-management skills and support adherence to the treatment plan or goals established during the clinical intervention.

The announcement also emphasizes that the application should be grounded in evidence-based behavior change approaches commonly used in substance-use care within medical settings. Examples named include motivational interviewing principles and other behavioral therapy concepts. The expectation is that the technology will promote health-supporting behaviors in a way that is consistent with what clinicians would recommend, helping patients translate a brief conversation in primary care into concrete next steps between visits. This can include encouraging reflection on substance use patterns, prompting coping strategies, supporting goal tracking, and helping the patient recognize triggers and progress over time.

Another key feature is tracking and accountability for health action items. The tool is expected to monitor whether patients complete recommended steps such as attending follow-up appointments, engaging in indicated treatment, or completing referrals and linkages to additional services. The overall design goal is to improve coordination and delivery of indicated services for primary care patients who are at risk of developing substance use disorders, meaning the app should function as a practical bridge between screening, brief intervention, and the follow-up care pathway, rather than operating as a standalone wellness product.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant in the health and education activity category under CFDA 93.279, offered by NIH. The eligible applicant pool is limited to small businesses, consistent with the R41/R42 mechanism, which is typically associated with phased small business innovation or technology development efforts where early prototyping and testing are expected. Clinical trial participation is described as optional, indicating applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not strictly required for every project approach.

Eligibility rules explicitly exclude non-U.S. (foreign) institutions from applying, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy definitions, which usually means certain project elements can involve foreign collaboration or resources if they meet NIH requirements and are justified, but the applicant organization itself must be an eligible U.S. small business. The funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-09, with an original closing date of 2019-03-19.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mobile Technologies Extending Reach of Primary Care for Substance-Use-Disorders (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-03-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for RFA DA 19 022

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