Environmental and sanitation improvements with a smartphone app
Official title: Environmental and Sanitation Improvements with mHealth
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11595389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A low-cost smartphone tool helps US cities and households report sanitation problems to prevent illness and costly repairs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $116,281 |
| NIH project number | 3R33TW012610-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11595389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults living in communities with aging sewer systems who use Android smartphones.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to a smartphone or those not involved in sanitation-related issues may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a free Android app designed to help households and city services report sewage and sanitation issues quickly. It will be piloted in Salvador, Brazil, where active sewer upgrades provide a real-world setting to refine the app. The aim is to reduce disease risk and emergency response costs by improving communication and maintenance for sanitation systems. Findings could inform how similar digital tools support safe environments in American communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could reduce disease outbreaks and save time and money by catching sanitation problems early.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital reporting tools have shown promise in improving infrastructure maintenance and public health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stauber, Christine Elizabeth — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Stauber, Christine Elizabeth
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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.