A mobile app to help families read more interactively with children.
Official title: Reading Bees: Adapting and Testing a Mobile App Designed to Empower Families to Read more Interactively with Children in Distinct Geographical and Cultural Contexts
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10898780 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new mobile app called Reading Bees that helps families read together in fun and interactive ways, especially for those who might not have easy access to reading resources due to where they live or their background.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | January 23, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $149,693 |
| NIH project number | 5G08LM014107-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10898780 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with children aged 0-11 years, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds or facing literacy challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Families without children in the targeted age range or those who already have access to comprehensive reading resources may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and testing a mobile app called Reading Bees, which aims to empower families to engage in interactive reading with their children. The app is designed to provide reliable guidance and resources tailored to different geographical and cultural contexts, addressing disparities in literacy access. By leveraging evidence-based content, the app seeks to enhance home reading routines, particularly for families facing barriers due to race, geography, or socioeconomic status. The project will involve localizing the app's content to ensure it meets the needs of diverse communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve children's reading skills and overall educational outcomes by providing families with effective reading resources.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with mobile apps designed to enhance literacy, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hutton, John S. — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hutton, John S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.