Smartphone tools to boost rabies control and surveillance worldwide
Official title: RFA-CK-22-002, Adaptation and assessment of smartphone technology to improve the implementation and evaluation of One Health systems for rabies control and surveillance globally
Funded at Mission Rabies USA, INC. · NIH-11509997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A global project is using smartphone technology to improve how rabies is tracked, managed, and prevented in people and dogs in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mission Rabies USA, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $399,857 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CK000667-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11509997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals in LMICs at risk of rabies exposure or communities with limited access to rabies prevention services, including children and marginalized groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients or communities in areas with robust existing rabies programs may experience modest gains if the program already delivers efficient data systems.
What this research studies
This project aims to connect field teams with digital tools to capture and share data in real time, improving how rabies cases, dog vaccination coverage, and PEP access are monitored. By compiling high-resolution geospatial data, the team hopes to identify gaps and optimize where to focus vaccination and education efforts. The effort involves adapting and testing mobile platforms and online systems for frontline workers to report data from the field. The work emphasizes making data more accurate and timely to support evidence-based policies and programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could see faster, more equitable access to rabies prevention and better-informed control strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs show that digital data collection can improve disease surveillance and response when adapted to local contexts.
Where this research is happening
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Mission Rabies USA, INC.
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gamble, Luke — Mission Rabies USA, INC.
- Study coordinator: Gamble, Luke
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using smartphone technology to improve global rabies control and tracking
This project aims to use smartphone technology to help communities in Africa and Asia better control and track rabies, a deadly disease spread by dog bites.
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Using smartphone technology to improve rabies control and surveillance worldwide
This study is looking to make rabies control better by using smartphones to help gather important information and improve communication between health workers in countries where rabies is a big problem, so that people can get the care they need more quickly.
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.