Creating personalized incentives for healthier eating to reduce heart disease risk

Development of personalized healthy food incentives to improve diet and cardiovascular risk

NIH-funded research University of Rhode Island · NIH-11081010

This study is testing a new program that helps adults at risk for heart problems make healthier grocery choices by giving them personalized tips and rewards for buying better foods.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Rhode Island NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Kingston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11081010 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to improve dietary habits and cardiovascular health by developing a personalized incentive program that encourages healthier grocery purchases. Using a novel automated platform called Smart Cart 2.0, the study will provide tailored recommendations based on individual dietary needs and preferences. The approach combines insights from behavioral economics and big data to understand food choices and promote better eating habits among adults at risk for cardiovascular issues. Participants will engage with the platform to receive incentives that motivate them to buy healthier foods.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who have cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity or hypertension.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have cardiovascular risk factors or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary habits and reduced cardiovascular risk for participants.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar personalized incentive approaches in improving dietary choices, indicating potential for this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Kingston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.