Harnessing mobile tech to improve adolescent nutrition in low-resource schools
Official title: Harnessing Digital Innovation to Tackle Adolescent Malnutrition in Low-Resource Settings: A School-Based mHealth Intervention
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11307313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A school-based mobile health program for 10–14 year-olds in Tanzania aims to improve diet, activity, and anemia awareness using engaging digital content.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $80,734 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TW013259-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are 10–14 year-olds enrolled in participating secondary schools in Dar es Salaam, with access to a school-based device lab and parental/teacher engagement.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to school-based devices or support may see limited benefit from the digital intervention.
What this research studies
This project develops and tests a mobile health app designed for younger adolescents in Dar es Salaam, using co-design with students, parents, and teachers. It applies behavior change theory to create gamified lessons, quizzes, and collaborative content that promote healthy eating and physical activity. The study unfolds in two phases, starting with co-design and then evaluation under real-world school conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve nutritional habits and reduce anemia among early adolescents in low-resource settings.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in mHealth and school-based nutrition has shown promise, but this project tests a contextually tailored approach in Tanzania; results could confirm broader applicability.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fawzi, Wafaie W — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Fawzi, Wafaie W
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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.