StepNet-Adapt: a personalized mobile program to boost activity for people on dialysis
Official title: StepNet-Adapt: A SMART Mobile Health Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Hemodialysis Patients
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11345269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A personalized mobile health program uses wearables, texts, and coaching to help people on hemodialysis become more physically active.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $796,998 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK147813-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults receiving hemodialysis who are willing to use a wearable activity tracker and engage with text messages and coaching as part of an adaptive program.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot use a wearable device or engage with digital coaching may receive little or no benefit.
What this research studies
If you are on hemodialysis and want to move more, this program will give you a wearable tracker, tailored text tips, and coaching options that adapt based on how you respond. The study uses a SMART design to adjust the level of support over time, aiming to help you increase your weekly steps. It also includes a 6-month follow-up to see if the changes stick. You’d participate through initial tracking, periodic coaching if you’re not meeting goals, and ongoing monitoring of your activity and health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help you become more physically active, which may improve health and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mobile and wearable-based programs show promise, but this adaptive SMART design in dialysis patients is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malhotra, Rakesh — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Malhotra, Rakesh
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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.