Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded a $794,406 Project Grant to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The award funds the optimization and rigorous evaluation of a multifaceted implementation strategy designed to increase adoption and sustainability of evidence-based classroom physical activity approaches in elementary schools. The project addresses the significant public health challenge that only 42% of children currently meet physical activity guidelines, contributing to cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. The research team will develop and test implementation strategies targeting two recommended evidence-based approaches: physically active breaks (short activity bouts integrated into instruction) and physically active lessons (movement integrated into academic content).

The project encompasses three primary objectives: optimizing the implementation strategy to improve use and sustainment of classroom-based physical activity approaches; evaluating the strategy's impact on implementation outcomes; and assessing long-term sustainability. The work is particularly focused on supporting implementation in under-resourced school communities where adoption barriers are most pronounced. Drawing on preliminary evidence demonstrating feasibility and acceptability, this evaluation will employ implementation mapping methodology and rigorous study designs to generate evidence about the strategy's effectiveness for improving both adoption and sustainability of these evidence-based physical activity practices in elementary school settings.