Environmental and sanitation improvements with a smartphone app to prevent illness
Official title: Environmental and Sanitation Improvements with mHealth
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11393369 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A low-cost smartphone app helps U.S. cities and households reduce sanitation failures that can cause disease outbreaks by testing it in a real-world Brazil setting.
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) | $141,239 |
| NIH project number | 5R33TW012610-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393369 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals in areas with aging or inadequate sewer infrastructure who are willing to use a smartphone app to report issues.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to a smartphone or who do not engage with digital reporting may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops a free, easy-to-use phone app that communities can use to report and track sanitation problems, with the goal of preventing sewage exposures and illness. Researchers will test the app in Salvador, Brazil, where ongoing sewer upgrades provide a live environment to evaluate how well households and service providers can use the tool. The approach combines real-time reporting, routine follow-up, and user-friendly feedback to support faster repairs and better maintenance of sanitation systems. Outcomes will inform how similar digital tools could help American communities keep water and neighborhoods safer over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help families avoid exposure to sewage and reduce disease risk by speeding repairs and maintenance of sanitation systems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior digital reporting tools for public health have shown promise in improving response times and maintenance.
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
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.