Monday, October 20, 2025 10/20/2025

AHOMKA: A Culturally-adapted mHealth Platform for Management of Hypertension in an Urban and Rural Region of Ghana

Award Number: R33EB033166
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

AHOMKA: A Culturally-adapted mHealth Platform for Management of Hypertension in an Urban and Rural Region of Ghana - PROJECT SUMMARY Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, have become the greatest health threat for low and middle-income countries (LMIC). In Ghana, hypertension is recognized as a major public health challenge. The ubiquity of mobile phones in Ghana and the popularity of mobile communications make it possible to deliver mHealth interventions to our target population. However, there is crucial gap in knowledge of the effectiveness of mobile health technology-based interventions for hypertension management in SSA. The proposed AHOMKA mHealth platform is an evidence-based intervention to assist with management of hypertension in an urban and rural region of Ghana. AHOMKA is adapted from the Empower HealthTM system, a proprietary software application developed by Medtronic for direct patient-to- provider communication via a mobile application and text messaging for hypertension management. This US- Ghana collaborative R21/R33 research project will focus on adaptation of the Empower HealthTM system into the local context in an urban and rural region of Ghana by multi-level engagement with stakeholders. We have assembled a multi-national, multi-disciplinary team of researchers and medical device professionals with expertise in mobile technology development, hypertension, cardiology, population studies, and public health across multiple institutions in Ghana (University of Ghana, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Medtronic Labs Ghana) and the USA (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts University). The proposed feasibility studies will be conducted at two large cardiovascular clinics in the Greater Accra region and the Volta region in Ghana. Phase One aims to (1) implement a user-centered, iterative design approach to adapt the mHealth platform based on feedback from stakeholders, and (2) conduct a 6-month usability and feasibility study with a cohort of patients. Phase Two aims to conduct a 12-month feasibility study to assess change in blood pressure among a cohort of patients in two regions of Ghana. In order to accelerate mobile health research in Ghana, we propose to form the AHOMKA Research and Education Network as part of the strategic capacity building plan.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $247,656 )
2025	2025	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	80 GEORGE ST	MEDFORD	MA	02155	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	004	5	9/9/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2025	2025	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	80 GEORGE ST	MEDFORD	MA	02155	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	002	5	8/15/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$50,000
2025	2025	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	80 GEORGE ST	MEDFORD	MA	02155	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	003	5	9/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2025	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	80 GEORGE ST	MEDFORD	MA	02155	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	5	8/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$197,656
2025	2024	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	80 GEORGE ST	MEDFORD	MA	02155	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	4	8/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $247,656

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $345,095 )
2024	2024	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	169 HOLLAND ST	SOMERVILLE	MA	02144	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	4	8/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$260,346
2024	2023	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE	169 HOLLAND ST	SOMERVILLE	MA	02144	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	3/28/2024	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$84,749
														Subtotal = $345,095

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $289,202 )
2023	2023	TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE INC	169 HOLLAND ST	SOMERVILLE	MA	02144	MIDDLESEX	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	8/24/2023	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$289,202
														Subtotal = $289,202

Grand Total All Awards = $881,953

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

AHOMKA: A Culturally-adapted mHealth Platform for Management of Hypertension in an Urban and Rural Region of Ghana

Award Number: R33EB033166

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer