Drrp project for advancing collaborative translation for mhealth apps to support health and function of people with disabilities

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) under the Administration for Community Living (ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, CFDA 93.433) awarded Shepherd Center, Inc. a five-year project grant totaling $499,374 effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. The grant supports translation activities and research to expand utilization of three evidence-based mobile health (mHealth) applications serving individuals with burn injury, scleroderma, and traumatic brain injury. In partnership with Massachusetts General Brigham/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and the University of Michigan, Shepherd Center will identify translation needs, develop translation plans for the three apps, establish adoption and use measures, and document translation methods for dissemination to clinicians and target users.

The project will deliver multiple products including translation plans co-developed with collaborators and target users, training materials, website resources, peer-reviewed articles, and presentations supporting translation of selected mHealth apps. Measurable outcomes focus on expanded app utilization by target users, improved health and function outcomes, practice and systems changes, enhanced networks of app users and organizations, and evidence-based understanding of translation strategies for mHealth applications serving people with disabilities. Sub-awardees include the Regents of the University of Michigan, responsible for designing and implementing translation plans and materials for the RENEW Scleroderma app, and The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation, providing expertise in focus group leadership, data analysis, and results dissemination.